WATCH: Nigel Owens sends ball boy to the sinbin after errant pass

If Jose Mourinho can hire professionals and Eden Hazard can get in a fight with them, then we know the age of the ballboy is changing.

Manchester United are now using academy players to get the ball back into play and, at the RDS, it seems the ball boys are also being treated like the players. During Leinster's comprehensive win over Scarlets in the Pro12 on Saturday, the referee largely kept his cards in his pocket. But he made an exception for the ballboy, whom he booked for having the cheek to whack him with the ball. Nigel Owens has a reputation for speaking his mind on and off the field. Not shy to poke fun at players or himself, he is about as popular as a rugby referee can hope to be. The Welshman did more good for his brand in Dublin 4 after being struck in the back by a rugby ball that a ballboy had thrown onto the field during Leinster's 45-9 win With a smile Owens whipped out a card and showed it to the scamp. Get on that exercise bike and think about what you've done, kid. https://twitter.com/RepOfRugby/status/838138766699204609