Nigel Owens

Owens opens up on bulimia battle

Owens, who took charge of the 2015 RWC decider between New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham, has previously revealed he attempted to commit suicide as he struggled to understand his sexuality before coming out as gay.

And the courageous Welshman, arguably rugby's most high-profile match official, has taken part in a BBC television programme about male eating disorders to urge others suffering from similar problems to seek help.

Rugby ref Nigel Owens asked to be chemically castrated

He said the pressure of officiating the 2015 final was nothing compared to accepting his homosexuality.

The Welsh referee suffered from bulimia and attempted suicide because being gay felt "totally alien" to him.

Owens, the first openly gay man to officiate at the highest level of the game, revealed his sexuality in 2007.