Neil Francis living in the dark ages, says top ref Owens

International referee Nigel Owens has said that rugby pundit and former Irish international Neil Francis is “living in the dark ages.”

The Welsh official, who is openly gay and regarded as one of the best referees in the game, said on the Pat Kenny Show that while everyone is entitled to their own opinion, Francis’s comments were unhelpful for young people struggling with their identity.

“I think he needs to think long and hard before he comes out with statements like this — of what harm he’s doing to young people who are struggling with who they are.