Ken Owens facts for kids
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| Birth name | Kenneth James Owens | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 3 January 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Carmarthen, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 109 kg (240 lb; 17 st 2 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | UWIC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kenneth James Owens (born 3 January 1987) is a former Welsh rugby union player. He played as a hooker for the Scarlets and Wales. A hooker is a player in the front row of the scrum.
Ken joined the Scarlets team in 2006. He became their main hooker in 2013. He also played for Wales, making his first appearance in 2011. In 2016, he became Wales' top hooker. In January 2023, he was named captain for the 2023 Six Nations Championship. This was after being out for almost a year with a back injury.
Contents
Early Life and Nickname
Ken Owens was born on January 3, 1987. His dad, Delme Owens, was also a rugby player. Delme played for Carmarthen Athletic RFC and later became the club's president. Ken's grandparents were mayors of Carmarthen. His grandfather, Kenneth, also led the Dyfed County Council.
Because of his grandfather's important role, Ken was given the nickname "The Sheriff." This happened during his first season with the Scarlets. Ken went to Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin and speaks Welsh fluently. He almost became a goalkeeper for Carmarthen Town AFC. But he chose rugby instead. He started playing youth rugby at Carmarthen Athletic. Then he joined the Llanelli Scarlets academy in 2004.
Club Career Highlights
Ken Owens started his professional rugby journey with the Llanelli Scarlets. His first game was at the end of the 2005–06 season. He played against the Glasgow Warriors.
Rising Through the Ranks (2006–2013)
In his early years, Ken was a backup hooker. He often played when the main hooker, Matthew Rees, was away with the Wales team. Ken made 17 appearances for the Scarlets in the 2006–07 season. He scored his first try after coming on as a substitute.
He signed a new contract with the Scarlets in December 2009. This committed him to the team until 2013. He faced a neck injury in late 2010. This required surgery and kept him out for four months. He recovered in time to be on the bench for the Scarlets' final game of the season.
Becoming a Key Player (2013–Present)
When Matthew Rees left the Scarlets in 2013, Ken became the team's main hooker. He started many games for the Scarlets. However, injuries sometimes kept him off the field. He had an abdominal injury and a calf problem.
In 2014, Ken was named the Scarlets' captain. He took over from Jonathan Davies. He suffered another neck injury early in the 2014–15 season. This required surgery and kept him out for a long time. Despite injuries, he signed a new contract with the Scarlets. This showed his commitment to the team.
In the 2016–17 season, the Scarlets had a great year. They won their second league title. Ken played in many of their matches. He scored a try in his 200th game for the region. He signed a new deal with the Scarlets in February 2017.
In January 2019, Ken even played as a number 8 due to team injuries. This is a different position for a hooker. His coach praised his performance. Ken continued as Scarlets captain for seven years. This set a new record for the team. He played his 250th game for the Scarlets in 2020.
In 2021, Ken had shoulder surgery. This kept him out for several months. He returned to play but faced more injuries. In 2022, he was diagnosed with a back injury. This ruled him out for the rest of the season. After 11 months, he returned to play in September 2022. He started his first game in a year in October 2022.
International Career
Ken Owens also had a long and successful international career with Wales.
Youth and Early Call-ups
Ken started playing for Wales at under-19 and under-20 levels. He scored the first try for the new under-20 side in 2007. He was first called up to the senior Wales squad in February 2010. This was due to injuries to other hookers. He was on the bench but did not play. He was also called up for a tour to New Zealand in May 2010. He played for the Barbarians against England.
Wales Debut and Backup Role (2011–2016)
Ken made his debut for Wales on September 26, 2011. This was during the 2011 Rugby World Cup against Namibia. He came on as a substitute in an 81–7 win.
In the 2012 Six Nations, Ken got his first start for Wales. He played the whole game as Wales won the Triple Crown. He was part of the team that won the Six Nations title two years in a row. He scored his first international try against Argentina in November 2013.
Ken played in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He came off the bench in all four pool matches. He also played in the quarter-finals.
Becoming a Wales Starter (2016–2022)
From 2016, Ken became Wales' main hooker. He started all three tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand. He also started many games in the 2016 Autumn internationals. He scored his third international try against South Africa.
In 2017, Ken was chosen for the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. This is a special team made up of the best players from the UK and Ireland. He captained the Lions in one of their matches. He came on as a substitute in the first and third test matches.
Ken played in the 2019 Six Nations. Wales won the Grand Slam that year. He earned his 61st cap, becoming Wales' most-capped hooker ever. He played in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He started many games as Wales reached fourth place.
In the 2021 Six Nations, Ken started all five matches. He scored two tries against Italy. Wales won their second title in three years. He was also selected for the Lions tour to South Africa in 2021. He started the final test match and scored a try.
In late 2021, Ken suffered a back injury. This kept him out of international rugby for a long time. He missed the 2022 Six Nations and a tour to South Africa. He returned to play for Wales in November 2022.
Captain and Retirement (2023)
In 2023, Ken Owens was named captain of Wales for the Six Nations. He became Wales' oldest ever captain. He scored Wales' only try against Scotland in February 2023.
International Tries
Wales
| Try | Opponent | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Argentina |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2013 Autumn Internationals | November 16, 2013 | Win |
| 2 |  South Africa |
Nelspruit, South Africa | Mbombela Stadium | 2014 Summer Internationals | June 21, 2014 | Loss |
| 3 | South Africa |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2016 Autumn Internationals | November 26, 2016 | Win |
| 4 |  Italy |
Rome, Italy | Stadio Olimpico | 2021 Six Nations | March 13, 2021 | Win |
| 5 | ||||||
| 6 |  Scotland |
Edinburgh, Scotland | Murrayfield Stadium | 2023 Six Nations | February 11, 2023 | Loss |
British & Irish Lions
| Try | Opponent | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa |
Cape Town, South Africa | Cape Town Stadium | 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa | August 7, 2021 | Loss |
Playing Style
Ken Owens was known for his strong and accurate line-out throws. He was also very active and dynamic around the field. He could often appear in unexpected places to score exciting tries.
Personal Life
Ken Owens' sister, Vicky, also plays rugby for the Wales women's team. She earned her first cap before Ken did. They both played at Twickenham on the same day Ken made his first start for Wales.
Ken's wife, Carys, is a television producer. She is the managing director of Whisper Cymru. This is a Welsh production company.
In July 2019, Ken received an honorary fellowship. This was from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. It is in his hometown of Carmarthen. In August 2019, he was inducted into the Gorsedd of Bards. This happened at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. He chose the bardic name "Cen y Siryf," which means "Ken the Sheriff."
Images for kids
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Ken Owens celebrating the Grand Slam in 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Ken Owens para niños
