Career
A coal miner by profession, Watcyn Thomas remembered him in his autobiography, as a dedicated player, turning out for Wales on Saturday before returning immediately to his shift underground at his mine. Although Cross Keys was seen as an unfashionable club at the time, it had already produced two respected internationals in Steve Morris and Ossie Male. Therefore although unusual, it was not a surprise when Bowdler was selected for the Welsh rugby team
In 1927 Bowdler was selected to face the touring Australian Waratahs and the next year made his debut in the Five Nations Championship in a game against England, which was also the last game for Wales captain Rowe Harding.
Bowdler played out the entirety of the 1928 Five Nations Championship and the 1929 season. An unsuccessful period in Welsh rugby, Bowdler played through into the early 1930s when the team"s fortunes began changing.
His final game was at Ravenhill against Ireland in 1933, when Wales lost the selectors dropped 11 players from the squad. Bowdler was one of them.
Wales
England 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932
France 1928, 1929
Ireland 1928, 1929, 1932, 1933
New South Wales Waratahs 1927
Scotland 1928, 1929, 1932
South Africa 1931.
