On Saturday night in Paris, Owens will become the first official to take charge of 100 Test matches when he brings up a century of games with France’s Autumn Nations Cup clash against Italy.
It will be the latest milestone for the 49-year-old and comes just a couple of weeks after his fellow countryman – Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones – became rugby’s most capped player.
Owens has been at his sport’s top level for what seems like forever, but he admits the end of his on-field career is close which is why he has been preparing the ground for change ever since he flew home from the Rugby World Cup in Japan last year.
So, what do you do after you’ve blown a whistle around the world for a living for almost two decades?
Owens’ career change – which is already underway – couldn’t be more dramatic.
Owens has begun preparing for life after refereeing and has started work as a cow farmer
READ MORE: The facts and figures behind Nigel Owens’ remarkable career
Instead of devoting all his time to making split-second decisions on the rugby field, he is now building up a herd of pedigree Hereford cattle on his own farm in the Gwendraeth Valley.
Owens already loves getting his hands dirty in his new world.
“I’ve been preparing for what to do next after finishing as a referee for some time,” he said.
“My mum and dad always told me to prepare for my future whether that be putting some money away for a pension or working at something I love.
“I first started working on a farm when I was 15. It was my uncle’s farm in Mynyddcerrig and I was a keen member of the Carmarthenshire Federation of Young Farmers’ in my teens.
“They had a Hereford bull running with the dairy herd and that’s where I first fell in love with the Herefords.
“They have a calm temperament, calve easily, and don’t take as much looking after as some other breeds.
“Now I’ve got my own farm and I’m building up my own herd.
“Lockdown gave me the chance to devote more time to it and I have to say I love it.”
WATCH: The great and good of world rugby pay tribute to Owens’ achievement
Owens loves farming so much in fact that he is constantly checking the live camera and feed of his cattle for new arrivals wherever his refereeing commitments take him.
“I’ve been nervous a couple of times in my life. One was when I was in charge of the 2015 World Cup final and the other one was coming out all those years ago,” admitted Owens.
“But every time there is a new calf due to be born I get that same feeling.”
Owens refereed his seventh European final when Exeter Chiefs beat Racing 92 at Ashton Gate last season and has been a regular presence in the Autumn Nations Cup.
The 2021 Six Nations is likely to be his last international action.
Having started with four heifers and a bull, Owens’ latest addition has taken his herd up to 35.
He hopes to increase that to 50 by the spring.
Owens will become the first referee to reach 100 Tests this weekend
Now I’ve got my own farm and I’m building up my own herd. Lockdown gave me the chance to devote more time to it and I have to say I love it
“The newborn calves are all part of what is now the Mairwen herd which is named after my mother,” Owens said.
“The first calf we had I named after my 82-year-old father, Geraint.
“The plan is to name the next wave after some of the players I’ve refereed down the years.”
Farming is not totally new to Owens who runs the herd jointly with his partner, Barrie Jones-Davies.
He spent two years learning agricultural studies at college in his teens and has also worked on the dairy unit at Wern Farm in nearby Llanelli. Surely, though, it will be a wrench to leave rugby behind?
“I still hope to be able to give something back to rugby when I hang up my whistle,” said Owens.
Owens is loving life away from rugby
I’ve been nervous a couple of times in my life. One was when I was in charge of the 2015 World Cup final and the other one was coming out all those years ago, but every time there is a new calf due to be born I get that same feeling.
“I’m committed to coaching and mentoring some of the referees in Wales and I’ll still carry on until the end of this season whatever happens.
“But I wanted to get myself in position to transition out of rugby and into something that gave me meaning and purpose in my life thereafter.
“It is well documented I struggled with mental illness in my younger days for different reasons and I didn’t want to open the door for anything like that to possibly return after I left refereeing.
“That’s why I’ve been planning out this move for some time.
“I kept on asking myself ‘What’s next?’ and prepared the ground for a move into farming.
“I know it’s never going to make me a rich man and I won’t get back the investment I put in until I sell the farm, but I’m fully committed and getting so much contentment out of it.
“When I blow my final whistle I will know I’ve got something to do the day afterwards.”
Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones said of Owens’ achievement: “On behalf of the squad we wish Nigel the best and congratulate on him making his own trail with the whistle.”
England head coach Eddie Jones said: “We’d like to send congratulations to Nigel Owens on his 100th Test. It’s a great achievement by a referee and he’s done it with a lot of colour and humour.
“He’s certainly added to the game, so congratulations to Nigel. We look forward to having you again mate.”
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac: “It’s 100 Tests for Nigel this weekend. What a fantastic career he’s had.”
Owens feeds his cows on his farm in west Wales
When I blow my final whistle I will know I’ve got something to do the day afterwards
