Ben Mowen
# Ben Mowen

Ben Mowen (born 1 December 1984) is an Australian former professional rugby union player. He was the captain of the Australia national team  and also the ACT Brumbies team in Super Rugby. He played at blindside flanker or number-eight.

## Early life

Mowen was born in Brisbane and educated at Villanova College. He played for the Brisbane Easts club, and captained the Queensland under 19s. At the 2005 Under 21 Rugby World Championship he captained Australia to finish second.

## Rugby career

Mowen made his Super Rugby debut in 2006 Super 14 season for the Queensland Reds against the Sharks. He made only other six appearances for Reds during the season, all being in non-competition matches, so he moved to the Waratahs in 2007, joining Randwick in the Shute Shield competition.

Late in the 2011 Super Rugby season Mowen was forced to leave the Waratahs to allow for Rocky Elsom's return from the Brumbies. In July 2011 Mowen signed a two-year contract to play under Jake White at the Brumbies, being made captain for the 2012 season. In June 2013, former Wallaby, Stephen Larkham stated that, after some doubts, Mowen had turned out to be one of the best leaders he has ever encountered.

Mowen made his Wallaby debut on 22 June 2013, against the British and Irish Lions in the position of blindside flanker. He maintained his spot in the team for the entire series. On 31 October 2013, he replaced James Horwill as captain of the Wallabies.

Mowen left Australia at the end of the 2014 Super Rugby season. He has said of his departure from test rugby: "I am probably the first (Wallabies captain to be in this situation), but I'm also probably the first bloke to make his Test debut at 28 and retire at 29."

## Reference list

* 1 2 3 4 "Wallabies profile". rugby.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 February 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
* ↑ Magnay, Jacquelin (31 October 2013). "James Horwill axed from Wallabies leadership, Ben Mowen captain for Test". Australian. News.
* ↑ "Player Profile". Brumbies. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
* ↑ Lewis, Daniel (17 February 2011). "Bigger Ben: Mowen ready to throw 114kg frame around". Age. Fairfax. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
* ↑ "Waratahs show Mowen the exit door to clear the way for Elsom". smh.com.au. 10 June 2011.
* ↑ "NSW Waratahs backrower Ben Mowen signs two-year deal with Brumbies". foxsports.com.au. 6 July 2011.
* ↑ "Ben Mowen shows benefit of hard work". espnscrum.com. 21 June 2013.
* ↑ Robinson, Georgina. "Horwill stripped of Wallabies' captaincy". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax.
* ↑ "Mowen announces Brumbies departure at season's end" (Press release). Brumbies. 9 January 2014. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
* ↑ ARU Media Unit (9 January 2014). "Ben Mowen to pursue international opportunities from 2015" (Press release). Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
* ↑ "Cooper in line for Wallabies captaincy". tvnz.co.nz. 9 January 2014.
