Nigel Owens: Coach’s Conduct Was Disappointing — But the TV Presenter Wasn’t Blameless Either

Nigel Owens has weighed in on the heated clash between Leicester coach Geoff Parling and TNT Sports presenter Craig Doyle, saying both sides must take responsibility for what happened.

The incident unfolded before Leicester’s match against Gloucester at Villa Park, when TNT’s pundits attempted a light‑hearted kick‑at‑goal segment during the warm‑ups. Parling reacted angrily, shoving Doyle off the pitch and swearing at the presenters.

Owens says the moment highlighted just how tense and high‑pressure the minutes before kick‑off can be — something many fans underestimate.

‘Those moments before kick‑off are incredibly tense’

Owens recalled several examples from his refereeing career to illustrate how emotions run high before a match:

- A tunnel altercation between Ryan Wilson and Owen Farrell before the 2018 Calcutta Cup  

- A heated stand‑off between New Zealand and Australia coaches during a Bledisloe Cup warm‑up  

- England’s V‑formation creeping forward during the Haka in the 2019 World Cup semi‑final  

He said you can “cut the tension with a knife” in those moments, especially when coaches are under pressure.

Owens: TV crew shouldn’t have done it — but Parling overreacted

Owens believes TNT’s pundits made the first mistake by kicking a ball towards players warming up.

“They know they shouldn’t have done it,” he said. “They probably didn’t think about the consequences.”

But he also criticised Parling’s response:

“He was within his right to tell them not to do that. But the way he approached them aggressively and swearing was the disappointing bit.”

Owens said both sides should “hold their hands up”, adding that Parling should have been more aware of the live cameras nearby.

A reminder of the fine balance between TV access and match preparation

Owens said the incident shows how broadcasters and teams must work together to avoid disrupting warm‑ups — a time when emotions are already running high.

He also recalled a moment when a Welsh referee, David R Davies, accidentally ran into a cameraman at Murrayfield during the old Five Nations, breaking his nose.

“Thankfully, TV and rugby didn’t collide quite so dramatically last week,” Owens joked.

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