Cannonball Ken is aiming to hit all the right notes to mark his 50-cap milestone
HE’S the Welsh team choirmaster, but Ken Owens has a confession to make ahead of his 50 cap song – he’s tone deaf!
It’s become a tradition that Wales players who bring up the half-century have to sing a song after the match to mark the occasion.
Justin Tipuric chose My Girl by The Temptations for his number last Friday night, following his 50th outing for his country against Ireland.
Now it’s Owens’ turn, as he becomes the 43rd Welsh player to reach the milestone in this weekend’s Six Nations finale versus France in Paris.
Given he’s been Wales’ choirmaster - famously leading the squad in a rendition of “Lawr Ar Lan y Môr” at the official 2015 World Cup reception - you would imagine he’s well equipped for the task.
But he has a little secret to let us all in on.
“I think a couple of people who haven’t heard me sing are looking forward to it, thinking I am a good singer,” said the Scarlets hooker.
“But I’m actually tone deaf! So, I think they are going to have a bit of a
“Ken would come on for the last 10 minutes of games, but those 10 minutes all add up. They get you ready for when you start.
“And this season he seems to have been right in the thick of things for Wales. He has been one of the form player in the Six Nations and I am over the moon for him.
“He’s someone who always plays with his heart on his sleeve for club and it’s great to see him getting the credit he deserves, because I know how hard he has worked.
“He had a back neck injury a few years back and it’s always difficult when you surprise. But it’s a bit of fun isn’t it?
“I’m not sure what I’m going to sing yet. I’ve got a couple in the locker.
“I was going to try and be a little bit more experimental, a bit out there, and go for a bit of Edith Piaf ‘Je ne regrette rien’.
“But I downloaded it off i-tunes and realised it was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be, so I canned that.
“I have got a couple in the back pocket. I will decide on the night. It will depend how many beers I’ve had as well probably!”
Warren Gatland has said he wants to have choir committee on this summer’s Lions tour of New Zealand and, for all his see hookers have neck injuries. It’s difficult when you go through that. But he has managed it to come out the other end and it’s lovely to see.” Former Wales hooker Garin Jenkins “I remember Ken from when I was working with the Ospreys Academy. My first view of him would have been when he was with the Scarlets U18s. “He was a player who had enormous potential as a youngster. He was a very, dynamic ball-carrying forward. He was one of the players in the opposition line up you had to stop really. He was quite a catalyst at age-group level, because he modesty about his vocal ability, Owens would seem an obvious candidate. He delivers a straight-bat “no comment” when asked on the subject, not wanting to get ahead of himself when it comes to squad selection. But he looks odds-on for a seat on the plane, given the way his praises have rightly been sung during this Six Nations. The 30-yearold is arguably playing the rugby of his life, combining pinpoint lineout accuracy, with thunderous defence and his was a really good ball-carrying forward. Then, when I was down the Scarlets for a short while, I got to see his ability close up.
“He has always been an impressive hooker. He’s still a really good ballcarrying forward. What he does well in the close quarter situation is he steps outside the threat of the first man, so he always gets outside the first defender. He’s very dynamic and always carries hard and gets you going.
“He’s a good character too. I’ve spent a bit of time in his company chatting to him and he’s a good bloke. That’s always important. trademark ‘Cannonball Ken’ carrying.
It’s a tale of triumph over adversity for a man whose career hit a major road block a couple of years ago.
Back in the autumn of 2014, he was struck down by a neck injury – the curse of all hookers – and, despite undergoing surgery, the problem just wouldn’t go away. He admits it was a tough time. “Initially, I thought I would only be out for six-to-eight weeks,” he recalls.
“The neck wasn’t really the problem. It was nerve damage because it was my second big impact on that part of the nerves.
“It just took forever for it to regenerate and to improve. It is only really now that my strength is anywhere near where it should be.
“I couldn’t really lift any weights at the time. It’s only now I am back to that strength.
“There were some moments where I thought would I (get fully over it). I was getting older as well.
“It was my third neck injury and my second operation, but thankfully, touch wood, there are no issues and I managed to get through it.
“The hooking position is like no other really. Most hookers are competitive characters and Ken fits that bill. He has a little bit of the old school influence on him, which is always good. He has served an apprenticeship.
“He played number two for a period to Matthew Rees and he’s had to competed with the likes of Richard Hibbard and Scott Baldwin in the last couple of years.
“He’s also had a neck injury to contend with, which goes with the territory. A good strong neck is a front row’s best asset because you have to be durable there. Success often comes at the end of