Sport | Back injury forces Wales hooker Owens into retirement
Wales hooker Ken Owens announced his retirement on Wednesday after failing to recover from a persistent back injury.
Kenneth James Owens is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a hooker for the Scarlets and Wales. He made his debut for the Scarlets in 2006, taking over from Matthew Rees as their first-choice hooker upon Rees' departure for the Cardiff Blues in 2013. He also served as backup to Rees, among others, for Wales following his debut against Namibia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. In 2016, he took over as Wales' first-choice hooker, and in January 2023, following almost a year out with a back injury, he was named as captain for the 2023 Six Nations Championship.
Wales hooker Ken Owens announced his retirement on Wednesday after failing to recover from a persistent back injury.
Wales' most capped hooker and oldest ever captain Ken Owens announces his retirement from rugby.