Two weeks ago, I received a text message from somebody I know in South Africa, asking me if the rumours were true. To be honest, as I told them, I had no idea what they were talking about.
A few hours later, I saw online what I expect most of you will have seen by now all over social media and in the press. It was reported, first in South Africa and then in the UK and across the world, that the Springboks want me to join their coaching team ahead of this year’s World Cup.
While receiving that text message was the first I’d heard of these rumours, I soon learned that they were true, as South Africa’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus phoned me a few days later and indeed asked me if I’d be interested in returning to the Test arena and joining up with them in the summer as a law and strategy consultant.
READ MORE: Top South African coach says Nigel Owens 'appointment would be a masterstroke' for Springboks
The role itself, as Rassie explained, would be nothing new for me. It would entail me being in South Africa with the squad, refereeing their contact sessions and helping them with their understanding of what they can and can’t do on the field.
I’d be giving feedback to World Rugby on behalf of South Africa, reviewing the game from a referee’s point of view, flagging incidents the team may have a couple of questions about, or areas where we feel like they’ve been treated harshly. And after what we’ve seen in South African rugby over the past 18 months or so, an important part of the role would be helping Rassie and co to turn over a new leaf and improve the relationship between coaches, players and the referee.
I’ve held similar roles before. I haven’t been in to see the Wales squad this year, but it’s the sort of thing I’ve done with Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton, Dan Biggar and Ryan Jones over the years, while I’ve unofficially helped out a few players outside Wales as well, improving their communication and overall relationship with referees.
I actually did it with the Scarlets when Phil Davies was coaching there. I was available to all the regions, but the Scarlets took it up on a regular basis. I would go in and referee their contact sessions and go through stuff from the week before and let them know what look out for to help them prepare for the next match.
The only really new thing about this potential job is that it’s outside Wales and in a different rugby environment. But, obviously, it’s become a big talking point because it’s one of the first times a team has gone out to get somebody from outside the country for a role like this.
I’ve known Rassie for a long time, I was refereeing when he was over here at Munster. So I had a good, positive chat with him and he told me what the Springboks expect from their side of things. At the end of our conversation, I told him I’d have to think about it.
So, what am I thinking? Well, it’s not a case of do I want to do it, but, more, is it practically possible for me to do it?
It goes without saying that to be part of the coaching set-up of a big proud rugby nation like South Africa, let alone while they’re reigning world champions, is something that I would be honoured to do. Rassie knows that.
But while it’s certainly something that I’d consider doing and would probably enjoy doing, there are things that I need to sit down and go through from my side with my partner, family and the Welsh Rugby Union, where I’ve been a full-time employee for more than 22 years now. The job entails a lot of time away, so I’ve got to factor in the personal, family side of things and being away from the farm.
Then, of course, as mentioned, I’m also employed by the WRU as a referee coach, coaching the likes of Craig Evans and Ben Breakspear, while I also head up the academy and I’m involved with the URC as well. The WRU is my priority, so I’ve got to think, how that would work if the next step was to happen? Right now, I don’t know.
One of the main reasons why I gave up refereeing was I just didn’t want to do all the travelling anymore. You’re away for eight or nine weeks for World Cups and then there’s conferences and training camps and, after doing it for the best part of 25 years, I just didn’t want to do it anymore.
So, being away for six months is something else to consider as well, although there would also be time to be home and do some virtual work within those six months, as South Africa have been very understanding and supportive on this front too.
It’s obviously an incredibly exciting opportunity and I think these kinds of roles are good for the integrity of the game as a whole and benefit the players and the referees. If you can improve the feedback between teams and officials and cut down on things like penalties in games, then that can only be a good thing.
But, despite all that, it comes down to whether this is coming at the right time for me at the moment. If this had come along a few years ago or I didn’t have those other commitments, it’s probably something that I wouldn’t have to think twice about – but I do have them and they’re very important to me.
I told Rassie that I needed a week or so to think things through and that’s where we’ve left it for now. I will go back to them when I’ve thought it over and then either negotiations will carry on from there or I will have to say I’m sorry and prioritise my other commitments.
There’s a lot for me to consider, but all I know for sure right now is that it won’t be an easy decision either way.
READ NEXT:
South Africa want refereeing great Nigel Owens to join their coaching team for World Cup
Nigel Owens: Wales must cut down on silly penalties to get Six Nations back on track
Nigel Owens: The five best stadiums in the world that I refereed in
