Career
He originally played rugby for Llanelli under the union code later switching to league when he joined Wigan and represented the Welsh league team Bowen first played first-class rugby for Llanelli, and was on the brink of winning his first cap for the Welsh union team when he switched to league. Bowen was a trialist in 1938 and managed to play in front of the selectors on the side of the "Probables", but on leaving the field he was approached by officials from Wigan.
The club offered him a ten-year contract, and when Bowen accepted he severed his links from the union code by becoming professional.
Jackie Bowen played loose forward/lock in Wigan"s 10-7 victory over Salford in the 1938 Lancashire Cup final during the 1938-1939 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 22 October 1938. Although capped for his country, he did not receive his actual cap until 2005 when he was awarded it during a half-time presentation on the pitch of the JJB Stadium in a match between Wigan and Saint Helens.
