Name Ike Owens | Role Keyboardist | |
Died October 14, 2014, Cholula, Puebla, Mexico Music groups The Mars Volta (2001 – 2010), Free Moral Agents, De Facto, Long Beach Dub Allstars (1997 – 1999) Albums De‑Loused in the Comatorium, Frances the Mute, The Bedlam in Goliath, Amputechture, Octahedron | ||
Isaac "Ike" Andrew Owens (7 November 1918 – 15 October 1998) was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in 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.
Contents
- Rugby union
- International honours
- Championship Final appearances
- Challenge Cup Final appearances
- County Cup Final appearances
- Wartime Service
- References
Rugby union
Owens, who was born in Pontycymer near Bridgend, originally played rugby union for Blaengarw RFC, before switching to Maesteg. 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.
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, 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. 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 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.
Challenge Cup Final appearances
Ike Owens played Loose forward 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, 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 No. 1 Parachute Training School RAF based at RAF Ringway near Manchester. He was awarded the Air Force Medal in the 1945 Birthday Honours.