Available to book
Nigel Owens
LGBTQ+
Mental Health
Men's Health
Explore leadership, honesty, and resilience with Nigel Owens MBE, legendary international rugby referee and diversity advocate. Nigel shares insights on communication, fairness, and staying true to yourself, shaped by a career officiating 100 international rugby test matches. One of World Rugby’s most respected officials and Stonewall’s Gay Sports Personality of the Decade.
Sports Leadership
Pride
After Dinner Sports
Celebrity
Rugby
Broadcaster
Professional
Inclusion
Sport
Philanthropy
Personal Development
IDAHOBIT
Mental Health Awareness
Motivational
After Dinner Speakers
Nigel Owens MBE is a legendary Welsh rugby union referee, widely regarded as one of the greatest officials in the sport’s history. Known for his calm authority, quick wit, and integrity under pressure, he now shares lessons on leadership, inclusion, and resilience drawn from more than two decades at the top of international rugby.
After first picking up a referee’s whistle at the age of 16, Nigel went on to build one of the most respected careers in world rugby. He officiated his first international match in 2005 and later became the first referee in history to reach 100 test matches. Career highlights include refereeing the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final at Twickenham and a record six European Cup finals. In 2016 he was awarded an MBE for services to sport.
Beyond the pitch, Nigel is a familiar media voice and broadcaster. He has appeared on programmes including BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs, Panorama, and BBC Radio 5 Live, and has presented Welsh-language television on S4C. His memoir Half Time reflects on both his remarkable sporting career and his personal journey.
Nigel has also become a powerful advocate for mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ inclusion. After publicly coming out in 2007, he spoke openly about his struggles with depression and eating disorders, helping challenge stigma around mental health in sport and beyond. His advocacy has been recognised with Stonewall’s Gay Sports Personality of the Year and Gay Sports Personality of the Decade awards. He is also a patron of the anti-bullying charity BulliesOut and continues to support the game through mentoring and referee development.
Drawing on the pressure and scrutiny of elite sport, Nigel explores decision-making, leadership, communication, integrity, and inclusion. With humour, honesty, and the storytelling that made him such a respected figure on the field, he shares what it takes to make clear decisions under pressure and treat people fairly, even in the most demanding environments. Audiences leave with a fresh perspective on authenticity, resilience, and the importance of respect and understanding in both sport and the workplace.
Book Nigel to inspire your team with honest perspectives on resilience, authenticity, and effective leadership through adversity.
Topics, sessions and talks
Nigel Owens MBE, one of the world’s top rugby referees and the first openly gay man in professional rugby, was awarded an MBE for services to sport in 2016. His best-selling memoir "Half Time" reveals his early struggles with eating disorders and a suicide attempt as he grappled with his sexuality. Nigel's bravery and advocacy for equality, inclusiveness, and mental health have earned him numerous accolades, including gay Sports Personality of the Year and gay Sports Personality of the Decade by Stonewall. Attendees will learn from Nigel's experiences about fostering inclusivity and supporting the LGBTQAI+ community.
Nigel's record as the world's most capped test match referee gives him deep credibility on decision-making under pressure, while his journey navigating mental health challenges and coming out in professional rugby offers authentic insights on building psychologically safe, inclusive teams that perform when it matters.
Testimonials
Featured Projects
often considered together
Gareth Thomas
Team Building
Influence
LGBTQ+
Helen Richardson-Walsh
LGBTQ+
High Performance
Growth Mindset
Kate Richardson-Walsh
Team Building
High Performance
Transformational Leadership
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Email nigel.owens@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Nigel's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Nigel Owens draws on memoir-style personal narrative, recounting specific episodes from his career and private life — including his public coming out in 2007 and his experiences with depression and eating disorders — to illustrate broader points on resilience, inclusion, and decision-making under pressure.
Nigel Owens MBE speaks on LGBTQ+ inclusion, mental health awareness, and leadership and decision-making under pressure, drawing on his career in elite rugby. He was the first referee in history to reach 100 test matches, having officiated the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final, and received an MBE for services to sport in 2016.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
Get the right person
Tell us what you’re working on and we’ll match you with the talent your audience won’t stop talking about.
