Dicky Owen

Influence in rugby Born Richard Morgan Owen in 1876, "Dicky" Owen was one of the great players of Wales' first Golden Era of rugby. He played in five Triple Crown-winning teams and along with Gareth Edwards and Haydn Tanner is seen as one of the greatest scrum-halves to play for Wales.

An example of Owen's tactical mind was seen in one of his early international matches against England in 1902. Wales were behind in the game with little time remaining when Owen tricked his opposite number, Bernard Oughtred, into an off-side tackle near the English posts. With the Welsh in charge of the scrum on the English '25', Owen told his forwards, in Welsh,

On 9 January 1904 Wales again faced England during the Home Nations Championship. The referee for that match was a Mr. Findlay of the Scottish Rugby Union, whose interpretation of the rules was so confusing the Welsh players gave away eleven penalties, seven within goal range, before the first half. Owen decided that rather than give any further dubious penalties away, he allowed his English counterpart to put the ball into scrums even when it was a Welsh put-in.

Club career Owen first played rugby with the town team, Hafod Rovers, before moving to Swansea Rugby Club in 1899. Owen played his club rugby partnered with Dick Jones at half-back; known as the 'Dancing Dicks', Owen's longevity as an international rugby player is quite surprising considering his slight build and the want of the Welsh Rugby Union selection committee to chop and change the formation of the national side at will. Owen was seen as a first choice by the selectors, and his ability to play with numerous differing partners kept him in the side.

Although Owen won five Triple Crowns and captained Wales on three occasions, he is most remembered for his actions in the Match of the Century, the historic Welsh win over the original All Blacks during the New Zealand tour of Britain in 1905. During the match against the All Blacks, Owen bravely supported his seven forwards but took a heavy pounding from the New Zealand pack resulting in Owen receiving a cracked rib. Later in the match Owen would be recognised as the orchestrator of the move that led to Teddy Morgan scoring the only and winning try.

International matches played 1908 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1911 1905 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1912 1906

Retirement and later life Owen retired from international rugby, at the age of 34, in 1912 in a 21–6 victory against Scotland, fittingly played at St Helens in Swansea. Owen was given the captaincy for this match and after the final whistle was carried from the field shoulder high. He would retire from rugby completely the following year when he left Swansea Rugby Club in 1913. As fitting many sports people he became a publican on retirement from rugby. Owen killed himself in the Swansea pub he ran in 1932; he was 55.