Desert Island Discs - Radio 4
Have a listen back to Nigel Owens on Desert Island Discs, not just because his down-to-earth luxury is Welsh tea bags and half the songs sound familiar, only they're sung in Welsh.
It's also because he is inspirational and funny and open and courageous.
This is Owens from the heart. You can see why they call him legendary.
He is widely regarded as one of the finest and fairest rugby union referees.
"In a sport marinated in machismo, he has the courage to be openly gay," said Kirsty Young, treating her introduction to a light sprinkling of alliteration.
His lilt of a Welsh accent rose and dips - like we were all rollicking in a little car up and down those famous hills and valleys.
And he let us in on a few referee secrets. Knowing when to blow the whistle is easy, the secret is knowing when not to blow it.
The story of how he became a referee involved missing a vital conversion when he was 16.
It was meant to be his moment of glory but he missed and ended up the laughing stock of the school.
"Nigel, for God's sake will you go and bloody referee," begged his coach. So he did.
His choices were deeply connected to his country to his language, history, heritage, family and community.
Of course, Tom Jones had to belt out The Green Green Grass of Home; but he also had Jennifer Rush singing The Power of Love - it reminded him of the last time he had a girlfriend, he joked.
Owens spoke openly about the distress he felt initially at discovering he was gay. He even asked a doctor could he be chemically castrated.
But this is spoiling it. This was a brilliant Desert Island Discs - a portrait of a life and its sweeping highs and distressing lows.
There were deeply tragic moments and laugh-out-loud funny ones too.
Listen back - it's truly worth it.
