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Billy Bowen

1897 – 1960

Welsh rugby union and rugby league footballer

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About Billy Bowen

Lived 1897 – 1960 (aged 63). Billy Bowen was a British rugby league player and rugby union player.

William Bowen (6 December 1897 – 19 December 1960) Bowen was re-selected for the next game of the tournament this time against France in a victory at the Cardiff Arms Park, though he lost his place for the last match in Ireland.

Bowen was reselected to represent Wales for the entirety of the 1922 Five Nations Championship in which Wales won the tournament, winning three of the games and drawing against Scotland. Bowen scored two tries during the tournament; the first in the opening Welsh victory over England when Bowen was one of eight different players to score a try for Wales. His second was more important, as it allowed the draw with Scotland snatched by Wales when Islwyn Evans scored a drop goal in the last two minutes.

Bowen may have been awarded more caps for Wales, but he 'Went North' in 1922, switching codes to professional rugby league, joining Leeds RLFC. Bowen made his début for Leeds against Bradford Northern at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 2 September 1922. Bowen played at and scored a try in Leeds' 28–3 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1922–23 Challenge Cup Final during the 1922-23 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield, the only occasion the Challenge Cup final has ever been staged at Belle Vue. The Leeds backline in the early 1920s was known as the Busy Bs, as it included; Jim Bacon, Arthur Binks, Billy Bowen, Joe Brittain and Harold Buck.

International matches played Wales 1922 1921, 1922 1922 1921, 1922

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Important facts

People in Billy Bowen's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Billy Bowen's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Billy Bowen?

Welsh rugby union and rugby league footballer (1897-1960)

When was Billy Bowen born?

Billy Bowen was born on 6 December 1897 in Swansea.

When did Billy Bowen die?

Billy Bowen died on 19 December 1960 in Morriston.

What was Billy Bowen's occupation?

Billy Bowen was a rugby league player and rugby union player.

What nationality was Billy Bowen?

Billy Bowen was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Billy Bowen

· Wikidata: Q4912241

· DBpedia: Billy Bowen

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Billy Bowen. https://biography.guide/billy-bowen/

MLA: "Billy Bowen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/billy-bowen/.

Chicago: "Billy Bowen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/billy-bowen/.

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