Nigel Owens set to break record for refereeing Test matches

Welshman Nigel Owens is set to break the world record for most Test match appearances by a rugby union referee this summer.

Owens, who took charge of the World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham last October, has been handed his 71st Test when Fiji tackle Tonga in Suva on June 11.

And that game will see him pass South African Jonathan Kaplan’s mark of 70 Tests, 13 years after refereeing his first international match.