Jackie Bowen
Benjamin John Bowen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 April 1915 Llanelli, Wales |
| Died | 26 February 2009 (aged 93) Wigan, Greater Manchester, England |
| Occupation(s) | Rugby union and rugby league footballer, publican |
| Years active | 1930s–1940s |
| Known for | Playing for Llanelli RFC, Wigan Warriors, Leigh Leopards, Wales national rugby league team |
Benjamin John Bowen (birth registered in the second quarter of 1915 – 26 February 2009) was a Welsh athlete who played both rugby union and professional rugby league during the 1930s and 1940s. He represented Llanelli in rugby union and later played rugby league at the club level for Wigan and Leigh, where he achieved a total of seven tries. Bowen also earned selection for the Welsh rugby league side.
Background
Born in Llanelli, Wales, Bowen became the inaugural licensed landlord of The Wellfield Hotel, located within the newly developed Beech Hill estate in Wigan. He passed away at the age of 93 in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.
Rugby career
Bowen's senior rugby journey started with Llanelli, where he nearly secured a cap for the Welsh rugby union team before transitioning to rugby league. Following a trial in 1938, Wigan extended to him a ten-year professional contract, marking the end of his union tenure. He signed with Wigan Warriors but shortly thereafter joined the British Armed Forces during World War II as part of the Welsh Guards.
Playing as left wing, Bowen contributed to Wigan's 10–7 victory against Salford in the 1938–39 Lancashire Cup Final. After the war, he earned his first international rugby league cap facing England in 1945. Additionally, he played a significant role in Wigan's triumph over Dewsbury in the 1943–44 Wartime Emergency League Championship Final.
Despite being capped for Wales earlier, Bowen was formally presented with his official cap only in 2005 during a halftime ceremony at the JJB Stadium during a match between Wigan and St. Helens.
Genealogical information
After settling in Wigan as a publican, Bowen married Phyllis Brown, a local resident. They had two children: Benjamin J. Keith Bowen (born late 1941) and Margaret A. Bowen (born mid-1943), both registered in the Ince district.
External links
- 1915 births
- 2009 deaths
- 20th-century Welsh sportsmen
- British Army personnel of World War II
- British publicans
- Footballers who switched code
- Leigh Leopards players
- Llanelli RFC players
- Rugby league players from Llanelli
- Rugby union players from Llanelli
- Wales national rugby league team players
- Welsh Guards soldiers
- Welsh rugby league players
- Welsh rugby union players
- Wigan Warriors players