Jackie Bowen

Jackie Bowen
Birth name Benjamin John Bowen
Date of birth second ¼ 1915
Place of birth Llanelli, Wales
Date of death 26 February 2009 (aged 93)
Place of death Wigan, England
Occupation(s) publican
Rugby league career
Position(s) Forwards
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1938-48 Wigan RLFC 147 (112)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1945-48 Wales 2 (0)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)

Benjamin John "Jackie" Bowen (birth registered second ¼ 1915[1] – 26 February 2009 (aged 93)) was a Welsh international rugby league player. He originally played rugby for Llanelli under the union code later switching to league when he joined Wigan, and represented the Welsh league team.

Rugby career

Bowen first played first-class rugby for Llanelli, and was on the brink of winning his first cap for the Welsh union team when he switched to league. Bowen was a trialist in 1938 and managed to play in front of the selectors on the side of the 'Probables', but on leaving the field he was approached by officials from Wigan. The club offered him a ten-year contract,[2] and when Bowen accepted he severed his links from the union code by becoming professional. Bowen moved to Wigan, but with the outbreak of World War II he joined the British Armed Forces becoming a member of the Welsh Guards. Jackie Bowen played loose forward/lock in Wigan's 10-7 victory over Salford in the 1938–39 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1938–39 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 22 October 1938.[3] After the war he returned to Wigan, and in 1945 he won his first international cap in a game against England.[4]

Jackie Bowen played loose forward/lock in Wigan's 13-9 victory over Dewsbury in the Championship Final first-leg during the 1943–44 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 13 May 1944,[5] and played loose forward/lock in the 12-5 victory over Dewsbury in the Championship Final second-leg during the 1943–44 season at Crown Flatt, Dewsbury on Saturday 20 May 1944.[5]

Although capped for his country, he did not receive his actual cap until 2005 when he was awarded it during a half-time presentation on the pitch of the JJB Stadium in a match between Wigan and St. Helens.

Genealogical information

Bowen settled in Wigan, becoming a publican in the city, and marrying local girl Phyllis Brown , they had children; Benjamin J. K. Bowen (birth registered during fourth ¼ 1941 (age 76–77) in Ince district), and Margaret A. Bowen (birth registered during third ¼ 1943 (age 74–75) in Ince district).

References

  1. ↑ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "Tributes paid to former Wigan star Jack". Wigan Today. Johnston Press. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "22nd October 1938: Salford 7 Wigan 10 (Lancashire Cup Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Gate, Robert (1986). Gone North: Volume 1. Ripponden: R.E. Gate. p. 145. ISBN 0-9511190-0-1.
  5. 1 2 "1943–1944 War Emergency League Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
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