Scott Bowen

Scott Bowen was born in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire and came from good rugby league stock. His father Grahame was a front row forward for both the St George and Cronulla Sutherland rugby league clubs. A sharp minded fly-half with excellent hands, Bowen attended Newington College and played in the 1st XV in both 1989 and 1990.

He went on to represent Australia at schools level and was selected in the 1993 Australian U21s squad however a series of fortuitous events played out over a period of six weeks that saw Bowen go from playing for City against Country U21s to starting for the Wallabies against the touring Springboks. When Michael Lynagh had to withdraw due to peritonitis, Bowen made his test debut against South Africa in Sydney and held his spot for the next two matches.

In 1995 he was selected to his first Rugby World Cup and upon Lynagh’s retirement spent much of the next season and a half in a tussle with Pat Howard for the No.10 jersey. Scott Bowen played eight Tests for Australia in his four-year international career.

Highlights

1990/91

Represented Australian Schools against Dutch Youth, Wales Schools, Ireland Schools, Scottish Schools and England Schools.

1993

Bowen won his first Test cap as the starting fly half in the 1st Test, 12-19 loss to South Africa in Sydney. He retained his spot for the second Test and played in the third Test despite suffering from a case of undiagnosed glandular fever. Bowen was picked for the end-of-season tour to North America and France but warmed the bench behind returned captain Michael Lynagh.

1994

Bowen sustained a torn pectoral muscle which saw him miss the entire international season.

1995

He was selected to his first Rugby World Cup and played in one match, the pool game victory over Romania in Stellenbosch. Following Michael Lynagh’s retirement, Bowen started at No.10 in both Bledisloe Cup Tests.

1996

Bowen won his final three caps in the one-off Test win against Canada, the first Test loss to New Zealand In Wellington and the second Test defeat to South Africa in Bloemfontein. Bowen broke his leg and dislocated his ankle in the year’s final club match at Granville Park to rule him out of contention for a spot on the northern hemisphere tour.