orders . ▁In ▁it , ▁he ▁opened ▁up ▁about ▁his ▁own ▁experiences ▁with ▁bul im ia ▁and ▁how ▁it ▁has ▁affected ▁his ▁life , ▁highlight ing ▁his ▁ref ere eing ▁of ▁the ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup ▁as ▁a ▁significant ▁trigger . ▁ ▁His ▁long - term ▁partner ▁is ▁Bar rie ▁Jones - D av ies , ▁a ▁primary ▁school ▁teacher ▁from ▁ ▁L land overy . ▁In ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁Jones - D av ies ▁joined ▁O w ens ▁in ▁Tokyo ▁to ▁support ▁him ▁during ▁the ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup . ▁ ▁Ref ere eing ▁career ▁O w ens ▁started ▁ref ere eing ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 , ▁after ▁his ▁sports ▁teacher ▁John ▁Be yn on ▁suggested ▁he ▁take ▁up ▁ref ere eing ▁after ▁a ▁school ▁game . ▁His ▁first ▁game ▁was ▁an ▁under - 1 5 s ▁match ▁between ▁Car mar then ▁and ▁P embro kes hire ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 1 6 . ▁ ▁O w ens ▁made ▁his ▁European ▁debut ▁during ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 0 – 0 1 ▁European ▁Challenge ▁Cup ▁season , ▁ref ere eing ▁London ▁Irish ▁and ▁P iac enza ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 1 . ▁In ▁October ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁O w ens ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁first ▁three ▁Wel sh ▁Rugby ▁Union ▁professional ▁ref ere es . ▁He ▁made ▁his ▁debut ▁in ▁Europe ' s ▁He ine ken ▁Cup , ▁ref ere eing ▁Cal vis ano ▁and ▁Per p ign an