Ken Owens
Encyclopedia
Kenneth James "Ken" Owens (born 3 January 1987 in Carmarthen
, Wales
) is a Wales
international rugby union
footballer who currently plays as a hooker for the Scarlets regional side in the RaboDirect Pro12. He has made 104 appearances for the Scarlets scoring 15 points (3 tries).
Owens began his career at Carmarthen Athletic RFC
before moving to UWIC RFC
when he began studying at the university
in 2005. He has been contracted to the Llanelli Scarlets throughout, and made his Scarlets debut towards the end of the 2005–06 Magners League season in a match against the Glasgow Warriors
. He left UWIC and began playing his club rugby for Llanelli RFC
. In 2006–07, Owens made 47 appearances for the Llanelli Scarlets, and scored his first and only try in a Magners League match against Border Reivers
. However, in 2007–08, Owens suffered a knee injury, forcing the region to bring in Samoa
n hooker Mahonri Schwalger
on a short-term contract.
In the 2009–10 season, due to Matthew Rees resting from the 2009 British Lions tour, Owens was able to get a string of games and build good form which sent him on a very good season for the Scarlets by scoring the Magners League 2009–10 try of the season and having a very impressive line-out throwing statistics.
On 15 February 2010, Owens was called into Wales
2010 Six Nations squad due to injury to hookers Matthew Rees
and Gareth Williams
. In June 2011 he was called up to the Wales national rugby union team
45 man training squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
following injury to Richard Hibbard
. He made his debut for Wales on 26 September 2011 against Namibia in the Rugby World Cup as a second half replacement.
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
) is a Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who currently plays as a hooker for the Scarlets regional side in the RaboDirect Pro12. He has made 104 appearances for the Scarlets scoring 15 points (3 tries).
Owens began his career at Carmarthen Athletic RFC
Carmarthen Athletic RFC
Carmarthen Athletic Rugby Football Club are one of two Welsh rugby union clubs based in Carmarthen in West Wales. The other is Carmarthen Quins RFC. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets.- Overview :...
before moving to UWIC RFC
UWIC RFC
UWIC Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team currently playing in the WRU Division One West. They are a modern university team. UWIC RFC are a feeder club for Cardiff Blues.-Notable former players:Inclusion criteria: Attained international caps...
when he began studying at the university
University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Cardiff Metropolitan University is a university situated in Cardiff. It operates from three campuses: Llandaff on Western Avenue, Cyncoed, and Howard Gardens in the City Centre. The university serves over 12,000 students...
in 2005. He has been contracted to the Llanelli Scarlets throughout, and made his Scarlets debut towards the end of the 2005–06 Magners League season in a match against the Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors
The Glasgow Warriors, formerly Glasgow Rugby, are one of two professional rugby union teams in Scotland, Edinburgh being the other. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12 and their home ground is Firhill Stadium, also the home of Partick Thistle Football Club.-History:Glasgow Rugby were created to...
. He left UWIC and began playing his club rugby for Llanelli RFC
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
. In 2006–07, Owens made 47 appearances for the Llanelli Scarlets, and scored his first and only try in a Magners League match against Border Reivers
Border Reivers
Border Reivers were raiders along the Anglo–Scottish border from the late 13th century to the beginning of the 17th century. Their ranks consisted of both Scottish and English families, and they raided the entire border country without regard to their victims' nationality...
. However, in 2007–08, Owens suffered a knee injury, forcing the region to bring in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n hooker Mahonri Schwalger
Mahonri Schwalger
Mahonri Schwalger is a professional rugby union footballer who plays for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition and for Taranaki in the ITM Cup. He is also currently the captain of the Samoan national team....
on a short-term contract.
In the 2009–10 season, due to Matthew Rees resting from the 2009 British Lions tour, Owens was able to get a string of games and build good form which sent him on a very good season for the Scarlets by scoring the Magners League 2009–10 try of the season and having a very impressive line-out throwing statistics.
On 15 February 2010, Owens was called into Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
2010 Six Nations squad due to injury to hookers Matthew Rees
Matthew Rees
Matthew Rees is a Wales and British Lions international rugby union footballer who currently plays for the Scarlets in the Celtic League. His usual position is at hooker...
and Gareth Williams
Gareth John Williams
Gareth John Williams is a Welsh rugby union footballer who normally plays at hooker and is currently with Cardiff Blues. He was previously with his hometown club of Bridgend. He made his debut for Wales against France as a substitute in 2003...
. In June 2011 he was called up to the Wales national rugby union team
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
45 man training squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
following injury to Richard Hibbard
Richard Hibbard
Richard Hibbard , is a Wales international rugby union player. A hooker, he started playing rugby at age grade levels at clubs in the town of Port Talbot, such as; Aberavon Quins RFC & Taibach. He went on to play at senior level for Taibach, Aberavon RFC and Swansea before making his name at the...
. He made his debut for Wales on 26 September 2011 against Namibia in the Rugby World Cup as a second half replacement.