Billy Bowen

For other people of the same name, see William Bowen.
For the rugby union footballer of the 1880s and '90s for Wales, and Swansea, see William Bowen (rugby player).
Billy Bowen
Full name William E Bowen
Place of birth Swansea, Wales
School Hafod School
Rugby league career
Position Back
Professional clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1922-? Leeds R.L.F.C. 85 79
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Fly half
Amateur clubs
Years Club / team
1919-1922 Swansea RFC
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1921–1922 Wales[1] 6 (6)

William 'Billy' Bowen (born 6 December 1897)[2] was a Welsh dual code rugby player who played club rugby union for Swansea and rugby league for Leeds. Bowen was capped six times for Wales while playing under the union code.

Rugby career

Bowen was first selected to play for Wales during the 1921 Five Nations Championship in a game against Scotland. Under the captaincy of Tommy Vile, Wales lost the match in a match that was nearly abandoned due to crowd problems, when the St Helen's spectators kept pushing onto the pitch.[3] Bowen was re-selected for the next game of the tournament this time against France in a victory at the Cardiff Arms Park, though he lost his place for the final match in Ireland.

Bowen was reselected to represent his country for the entirety of the 1922 Five Nations Championship in which Wales won the tournament, winning three of the games and drawing against Scotland. Bowen scored two tries during the tournament; the first in the opening Welsh victory over England when Bowen was one of eight different players to score a try for Wales. His second was more important, as it allowed the draw with Scotland snatched by Wales when Islwyn Evans scored a drop goal in the last two minutes.[4]

Bowen may have been awarded more caps for Wales, but he 'Went North' in 1922, switching codes to professional rugby league, joining Leeds RLFC.[5] Bowen made his début for Leeds against Bradford Northern at Headingley Stadium on Saturday 2 September 1922.[6] Bowen played centre, i.e. number 3, and scored a try in Leeds' 28-3 victory over Hull in the 1923 Challenge Cup final during the 1922-23 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield, the only occasion the Challenge Cup final has ever been staged at Belle Vue.[7] The Leeds backline in the early 1920s was known as the Busy Bs, and it included; Jim Bacon, A. Binks, Billy Bowen, Joe Brittain, and Harold Buck.[8]

International matches played

Wales[9]

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Welsh Rugby Union player profiles
  2. ↑ Swansea RFC player profiles
  3. ↑ Godwin (1983), pg 130.
  4. ↑ Godwin (1983), pg 135.
  5. ↑ Robert Gate (1986). "Gone North - Volume 1". R. E. Gate. ISBN 0-9511190-0-1
  6. ↑ Dalby, Ken (1955). The Headingley Story - 1890-1955 - Volume One - Rugby. The Leeds Cricket, Football & Athletic Co. Ltd ASIN: B0018JNGVM
  7. ↑ "History of Leeds Rugby League Club". britishrugbyleague.blogspot.co.uk. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "Leeds rugby league legend medals auction". yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  9. ↑ Smith (1980), pg 464.

External links

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