Ken Owens facts for kids
Owens at the Wales Grand Slam Celebration, 19 March 2012
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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 team and the Wales national team. Ken made his first appearance for the Scarlets in 2006. He became their main hooker in 2013. He also played for Wales, making his debut at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. In 2016, he became Wales' main hooker. In January 2023, after being out with an injury, he was chosen to be the captain for the 2023 Six Nations Championship.
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Ken Owens' Early Life
Ken Owens grew up in a rugby family. His dad, Delme Owens, was also a rugby player and later led a rugby club. His grandparents were important people in their hometown of Carmarthen, even serving as mayors. This led to Ken getting the nickname "The Sheriff" from a teammate.
Ken went to Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin and speaks Welsh fluently. Even though he almost became a goalkeeper for a football team, he chose rugby. He started playing rugby as a young player at Carmarthen Athletic. Then, in 2004, he joined the Llanelli Scarlets academy.
Playing for Clubs
Ken Owens played for two main clubs: Llanelli RFC and the Scarlets. He spent most of his career with the Scarlets.
Starting His Club Career
Ken first played for the Llanelli Scarlets in 2006. He also played for Llanelli RFC for a couple of years. In his first full season with the Scarlets, he played 17 games. He scored his first try for the Scarlets in a game against Border Reivers.
For several years, Ken was a backup player. He often started games when the main hooker, Matthew Rees, was away playing for Wales. In December 2009, Ken signed a new contract to stay with the Scarlets until 2013. He had a neck injury in 2010 and needed surgery, which kept him from playing for four months.
Becoming a Main Player
When Matthew Rees left the Scarlets in 2013, Ken Owens became the team's main hooker. He signed a new contract to stay with the Scarlets until 2016.
In 2014, Ken was chosen as the Scarlets' captain. This was a big honor! However, he got a neck injury early in the season and needed surgery. He missed several months of playing. When he returned, he scored tries in three games in a row. The Scarlets managed to qualify for the top European competition that year.
In the 2016–17 season, the Scarlets had a great year. They won the Pro12 league title! Ken played in his 200th game for the Scarlets during this successful season. He signed another contract to stay with the team.
In 2019, Ken had to play in a different position, number 8, because of injuries to other players. His coach praised how well he played in this new role. He signed another contract with the Scarlets in March 2019.
Ken continued to be the Scarlets' captain for a record seven years, from 2014 to 2021. This broke a long-standing record for the club. In 2020, he played his 250th game for the Scarlets.
In 2021, Ken had a shoulder injury that kept him out for several months. He returned to play, but then faced another challenge. In 2021, he was diagnosed with a back injury that kept him from playing for almost a year. He worked hard to recover.
In September 2022, after 11 months, Ken finally returned to play rugby. He played for a feeder club first, then for the Scarlets. He made his first start for the Scarlets in a year in October 2022.
Playing for Wales
Ken Owens also had a very successful career playing for the Wales national team.
Youth and First Call-ups
Ken started his international rugby journey playing for Wales' under-19 and under-20 teams. He scored the first try for the new under-20 team in 2007.
In 2009, some people thought Ken should play for the senior Wales team, but he wasn't chosen at first. In 2010, he was called up to the Wales squad because of injuries to other players, but he didn't get to play in a match yet. He also played for the Barbarians team in a game against England.
Ken finally made his debut for Wales at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He came on as a substitute in a big win against Namibia.
Becoming a Regular Player
In 2012, Ken played in his first Six Nations game. He even got his first start for Wales in a match against England, which Wales won! Wales went on to win the Grand Slam that year, which means they won all their games in the tournament.
Ken continued to play for Wales in many important matches, including the 2012 Autumn internationals and the 2013 Six Nations, where Wales won the title again. He scored his first international try against Argentina in 2013.
In 2015, Ken was part of the Wales squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He played in all their pool matches and the quarter-final game.
Becoming a Starter for Wales
From 2016 onwards, Ken Owens became Wales' main hooker. He started all three tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand. He also scored his third international try against South Africa in 2016. In the 2017 Six Nations, he earned his 50th cap (played his 50th game) for Wales.
Ken's great playing led to him being chosen for the British & Irish Lions team for their tour to New Zealand in 2017. This is a very special team made up of the best players from the UK and Ireland. He even captained the Lions in one of their matches!
In the 2019 Six Nations, Ken played a key role as Wales won another Grand Slam. During this tournament, he became Wales' most-capped hooker ever, playing more games than anyone else in that position.
Ken was also selected for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He started many of Wales' games as they reached the semi-finals. He played a big part in their wins against Australia and France.
After the World Cup, Ken continued to play for Wales under a new coach. He scored two tries against Italy in the 2021 Six Nations, helping Wales win the title again.
In 2021, Ken was chosen for the British & Irish Lions again, this time for their tour to South Africa. He scored a try in the final test match against South Africa.
After a long injury break in 2021-2022, Ken returned to play for Wales in the 2022 Autumn internationals.
Captain and Retirement
In 2023, Ken Owens was chosen by coach Warren Gatland to be the captain of Wales for the Six Nations. This made him Wales' oldest ever captain. He scored a try against Scotland in the tournament.
Ken Owens announced his retirement from rugby in 2023, after a long and successful career.
Wales Tries
| Try | Opponent | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Argentina |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2013 Autumn Internationals | 16 November 2013 | Win |
| 2 |  South Africa |
Nelspruit, South Africa | Mbombela Stadium | 2014 Summer Internationals | 21 June 2014 | Loss |
| 3 | South Africa |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2016 Autumn Internationals | 26 November 2016 | Win |
| 4 |  Italy |
Rome, Italy | Stadio Olimpico | 2021 Six Nations | 13 March 2021 | Win |
| 5 | ||||||
| 6 |  Scotland |
Edinburgh, Scotland | Murrayfield Stadium | 2023 Six Nations | 11 February 2023 | Loss |
British & Irish Lions Tries
| 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 | 7 August 2021 | Loss |
How Ken Owens Played
Ken Owens was known for being a "steady" player when throwing the ball into the line-out. He was also described as "very dynamic" on the field, meaning he was active and moved well. He could even score "spectacular tries" sometimes!
Ken Owens' Life Outside Rugby
Ken Owens' sister, Vicky, also played rugby for the Wales women's team. They both played at Twickenham Stadium on the same day once!
Ken's wife, Carys, is a television producer. She works for a company that makes TV shows.
In 2019, Ken received an honorary award from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in his hometown. He was also welcomed into the Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. He chose the bardic name "Cen y Siryf," which means "Ken the Sheriff," referring to his nickname.
See also
In Spanish: Ken Owens para niños
