Jackie Bowen

Benjamin John Bowen (birth registered second ¼ 1915[2] – 26 February 2009) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Llanelli, and representative rugby league for Wales, and at club level for Wigan (Heritage No. 417),[3] and Leigh (where he scored seven tries), (Heritage No. 576),[4][5] and represented the Welsh league team.

Jackie Bowen
Personal information
Full nameBenjamin John Bowen
Bornsecond quarter 1915
Llanelli, Wales
Died26 February 2009 (2009-02-27) (aged 93)
Wigan, England
Playing information
Rugby union
PositionForward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Llanelli RFC
Rugby league
PositionForwards
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1938–48 Wigan RLFC 147 112
1948–49 Leigh 30 21
Total 177 0 0 0 133
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1945–48 Wales 2 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Background

Bowen was born Llanelli, Wales, he was the first ever landlord of The Wellfield Hotel public house in the middle of the then new Beech Hill housing estate in Wigan,[1] and he died aged 93 in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.

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,[6] and when Bowen accepted he severed his links from the union code by becoming professional. Bowen changed rugby football codes from rugby union to rugby league when he transferred 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 in Wigan's 10–7 victory over Salford in the 1938–39 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1938–39 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 22 October 1938.[7] After the war he returned to Wigan, and in 1945 he won his first international cap in a game against England.[8]

Jackie Bowen played loose forward 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,[9] and played loose forward 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.[9]

Although capped for Wales, 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,[10] they had children; Benjamin J. Keith Bowenduring fourth quarter 1941 (age 81–82) in Ince district),[11] and Margaret A. Bowen during third quarter 1943 (age 79–80) in Ince district).[12]

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. "Heritage Numbers - In Debut Order". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "They Played For Leigh (Statistics) at leighrl.co.uk". leighrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. "Heritage Numbers at leighrl.co.uk". leighrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. "Tributes paid to former Wigan star Jack". Wigan Today. Johnston Press. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  7. "22nd October 1938: Salford 7 Wigan 10 (Lancashire Cup Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  8. Gate, Robert (1986). Gone North: Volume 1. Ripponden: R.E. Gate. p. 145. ISBN 0-9511190-0-1.
  9. "1943–1944 War Emergency League Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  10. "FreeBMD Entry Info".
  11. "FreeBMD Entry Info".
  12. "FreeBMD Entry Info".
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