Ike Owens

Not to be confused with Ike Owens (American football).
Ike Owens
Personal information
Full name Isaac A. Owens
Born October–December 1918
Pontycymmer, Wales
Playing information
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Blaengarw RFC
Maesteg RFC
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Rugby league
Position Loose forward/Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1943–48 Leeds
≥1948–≥48 Castleford 7 2 0 0 6
≤1949–≥50 Huddersfield
Total 7 2 0 0 6
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1945–49 Wales 12 0 0 0 0
1946 Great Britain 4 1 0 0 3
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org englandrl.co.uk

Isaac "Ike" A. Owens (birth registered October–December 1918[1] — death unknown) birth registered in Bridgend district, was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s, playing club level rugby union (RU) for Maesteg RFC, and the Royal Air Force and playing representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, and Wales, and at club level for Leeds, Castleford, and Huddersfield, as a Loose forward/Lock, i.e. number 13, during the era of contested scrums.[2]

Playing career

Rugby union

Owens, who was born in Pontycymer near Bridgend, originally played rugby union for Blaengarw RFC, before switching to Maesteg.[3] Although switching to rugby league in 1943 Owens was part of the 1945 British Empire Forces rugby union team that played France, during a period when the strict guideline between amateur and professional were relaxed. Owens, playing at number 8, scored two tries in that game helping the British to a 27-6 victory.[4]

International honours

Ike Owens won caps for Wales (RL) while at Leeds, while at Castleford playing Loose forward/Lock in the 9-12 defeat by France at St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground, Swansea on Saturday 23 October 1948, and playing Loose forward/Lock in the 5-12 defeat by Australia at St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground, Swansea on Saturday 20 November 1948,[5] and while at Huddersfield 1945…1949 12-caps, and won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Leeds in 1946 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand.[6] Owens was widely regarded as Britain's key player on the 1946 British Lions rugby league Tour to Australia and New Zealand.

Championship final appearances

Ike Owens played Loose forward/Lock in Huddersfield's 2–20 defeat by Wigan in the Rugby Football League Championship final during the 1949–50 season at Maine Road, Manchester on Saturday 13 May 1950.[7]

Challenge Cup final appearances

Ike Owens played Loose forward/Lock in Leeds' 4–8 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1947 Challenge Cup final during the 1946–47 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 3 May 1947.

County Cup final appearances

Ike Owens played Left-Second-row, i.e. number 11, in Huddersfield's 4-11 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1949 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1949–50 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1949.

Wartime Service

Ike Owens served in the Royal Air Force as a Physical Training Instructor and as a Parachute Jump Instructor during World War II at RAF Ringway near Manchester. He was among only a handful of non-aircrew to be awarded the Air Force Medal for bravery, one of only 259 awarded in World War II.

References

  1. ↑ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  3. ↑ "The Amazing Story of the Welshmen in the 1946 Rugby League Tour of Australia and New Zealand". Sporting Wales. yudu.com. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "France tour - Richmond, 28 April 1945: British Empire Forces 27 - 6 France". espnscrum.com. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  5. ↑ "Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk ℅ web.archive.org. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "1949–1950 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
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