Top rugby referee Owens, who disclosed his sexuality earlier this year, is regarded as one of few openly gay men to referee at rugby’s top level. Owens, from Pontyberem in Carmarthenshire, made his Rugby World Cup debut last month.
Having taken charge of the EDF Energy Cup clash between Leicester Tigers and Cardiff Blues on Saturday Owens said winning the award was “up there with being elected to referee the Rugby World Cup”.
The awards, organised by gay rights group Stonewall, recognised those who had raised the profile of gay people in the sports world, setting good examples and challenging homophobia.
“Just by coming out in the public eye it obviously made news,” said Owens. “If it helps people in that way, than that’s great.
“It was no intention of mine to raise my profile as a person for being gay. I’m just a normal person, living a normal life.”
Welsh Secretary Peter Hain praised Owens’s courage for coming out and congratulated him on the award.
“Wales should be very proud indeed of Nigel Owens,” said Mr Hain. “His courage will hopefully mean sport becomes more accepting and, in the future, others will not suffer homophobic bullying or discrimination.”
