For referees, remembering players’ names is probably one of the easier responsibilities.
Nobody expects an official to know the names of all thirty players on the pitch but, surely, being aware of how to refer to the two captains is the minimum requirement for referees.
Ireland and Leinster legend Brian O’Driscoll is certainly of that opinion as, after a few chuckles, he expressed some disappointment in Nigel Owens for the official’s failure to remember the name of Exeter Chiefs’ skipper Gareth Steenson.
Steenson is something of a stalwart for the English Premiership side but Owens had to be reminded of his name when he called upon the captains during Exeter’s defeat to the visiting Bordeaux side in their Champions Cup meeting on Sunday afternoon.
.@BrianODriscoll calls out referee @Nigelrefowens for not knowing @steeno10‘s name during #ChampionsCup clash. https://t.co/wyMLwQRqiq
— BT Sport Rugby (@btsportrugby) December 11, 2016
The BT Sport studio panel found the exchange hilarious but O’Driscoll felt it was unacceptable for a referee of Owens’ stature to come up short in such a basic department.
“We laugh at it but that is a bit of poor form,” O’Driscoll said.
“He’s met him for the coin toss, he’s probably been talking to him a couple of times over the course of the game too… to not know the captain’s name in the second half and pulling him to one side to have a quiet word, he really should know that.”
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