Gareth Bowen

Gareth Bowen (born 20 June 1979) is a Welsh former rugby union footballer who played as a fly-half. Born in Aberdare, he played for Bridgend, Bedford, Bristol, Llanelli, Scarlets, Neath, Aurillac, Ebbw Vale and Newport.

Gareth Bowen
Date of birth (1979-06-20) 20 June 1979
Place of birthAberdare, Wales
Height174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight81 kg (179 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1997–1999 Bridgend ()
1999 Bedford ()
1999–2001 Bristol ()
2001–2006 Llanelli 55 (401)
2003–2006 Llanelli Scarlets 66 (562)
2006–2007 Neath ()
2007–2008 Aurillac ()
2008–2009 Bridgend ()
2009–2010 Ebbw Vale ()
2010–2012 Newport 35 (240)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Wales U21
2001 Wales 'A'
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2001–2002 Wales Sevens

Career

After spending time with Bridgend and in England with Bedford and Bristol, Wales under-21 international[1] Bowen joined Llanelli for the inaugural season of the Celtic League in 2001 and shared duties at fly-half with Stephen Jones.[2] His performances earned him a call-up to both the Wales Sevens and Wales 'A' teams in October 2001,[3][4] although in February 2002, he had to fly home from Sevens duty in New Zealand to cover for Jones who had been ordered to miss a game against Ebbw Vale to guard him against injury ahead of the 2002 Six Nations.[5]

In 2003, regional rugby came to Wales and Bowen and Jones were named as the two fly-halves for the Llanelli-based region, the Llanelli Scarlets;[6] however, the start of the 2003–04 season coincided with the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, which meant Jones was unavailable and Bowen started at fly-half for the first 10 games in the history of the Scarlets. Jones returned from the World Cup as first-choice, but the 2004 Six Nations Championship meant Bowen had another run in the team before the end of the season and he signed a new contract with the Scarlets in April 2004.[7] Jones left for French side Clermont in the summer of 2004, and failed moves for New Zealander Andrew Mehrtens and France's Gérald Merceron[8] meant Bowen was now considered the Scarlets' first-choice fly-half, although the newly signed Arwel Thomas[9] and the young Ceiron Thomas challenged him for the starting position at various points in the 2004–05 season.[10]

In 2005–06, the Scarlets signed United States international Mike Hercus as competition for Bowen,[10] limiting Bowen to just 10 starts during the season, although in October 2005, he was included as part of Wales' training squad for the 2005 Autumn internationals.[11] The return of Stephen Jones to the Scarlets and the emergence of Ceiron Thomas saw Bowen omitted from the Scarlets' 38-man squad for the 2006–07 Heineken Cup;[12] his only appearance for the region in 2006–07 came as a replacement in a pre-season friendly against Gloucester in August 2006, and he was limited to eight competitive appearances for Llanelli RFC before his contract was terminated in November 2006. Despite interest from Leeds Tykes, he was almost immediately signed by Neath, who were seeking a replacement at fly-half for James Hook, who had been promoted to the Ospreys regional side.[13]

Bowen left Wales for France in the summer of 2007, signing for second-division side Aurillac but returned to sign for his first club, Bridgend, in July 2008.[14] A year later, he moved to Ebbw Vale before joining Newport in 2010, where he spent two years before retiring.

References
  1. "Neath duo make Gnoll exit". BBC Sport. 8 June 2001. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  2. "Wyatt stays at Stradey". BBC Sport. 23 July 2001. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  3. "Baber leads Wales sevens". BBC Sport. 25 October 2001. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  4. "Davies gets Wales 'A' call". BBC Sport. 31 October 2001. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  5. "Club coaches demand respect". BBC Sport. 6 February 2002. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  6. "Scarlets launch regional vision". BBC Sport. 7 July 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  7. "Arwel seals Warriors deal". BBC Sport. 1 April 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  8. "Scarlets snubbed by Mehrtens". BBC Sport. 26 November 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  9. "Scarlets snap up Arwel". BBC Sport. 8 June 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  10. "Scarlets recruit fly-half Hercus". BBC Sport. 22 April 2005. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  11. "Shanklin to miss November Tests". BBC Sport. 16 October 2005. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  12. "Scarlets snub for Louw and Bowen". BBC Sport. 3 October 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  13. "Bowen joins Neath from Scarlets". BBC Sport. 15 November 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  14. "Ravens swoop for fly-half Bowen". BBC Sport. 10 July 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
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