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.

Owens, capped 91 times by Wales, has not played since appearing for the Llanelli-based Scarlets in last season's Challenge Cup semifinal against Glasgow Warriors.

The 37-year-old had surgery last July on a bulging disc pressing upon a nerve in his back and withdrew from Wales' squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

There had been hopes Owens, a former Wales captain, would return to action.

But he was unable to recover and Owens, Wales' most-capped hooker, has now decided to call time on a career that yielded 274 appearances for the Scarlets.

"Reluctantly, I am announcing my retirement from rugby," Owens said in a club statement.

"Not playing has been challenging, but the time is right to follow medical advice and hang up my boots.

"Had I written the script there would have been one more game for Wales, for the Scarlets and ultimately Carmarthen Athletic. A chance to sign off and thank everyone involved. It was not to be.

"It might not be the dream ending but my career has been more than I could have dreamt of," explained Owens, who also represented the British and Irish Lions in five tests across tours of New Zealand (2017) and South Africa (2021).

Owens made his Scarlets debut as a teenager and went on lead them to a Pro12 title in the 2016/17 season.

He also won two Grand Slams and two further Six Nations titles with Wales and was their captain in last season's Championship, when he made his final test appearance.

The 2023 Six Nations also saw Owens, as Wales skipper, representing the views of his teammates after they threatened to strike over contractual disputes ahead of the game against England.