Full name Thomas
John Bowe
Date of birth 22
February 1984 (age 30)
Place of birth Emyvale,
County Monaghan, Ireland
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3
in)
Weight 102 kg (16 st 1
lb)
School Royal School,
Armagh
University University
of Ulster, Jordanstown; University of London International Programmes
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Wing,
Centre
Amateur clubs
Years Club / team
Monaghan RFC
Belfast Harlequins
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2003–08 Ulster Played 91 points 170
2008–12 Osprey’s played 77 points 180
2012–present Ulster
played 124 points 240
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2004–present
2009, 2013
Ireland caps 55 points 135
Loins 5 points0
of 9 November 2014.
Thomas John "Tommy" Bowe (born 22 February 1984)
is an Irish rugby union player from County Monaghan, Ireland. He plays on the
wing for the Ulster, Ireland and the Lions. In March 2012, after four years
with Ospreys, Bowe returned to his native province, Ulster, for the 2012/13
season.
EARLY RUGBY AND GAELIC CAREER
He is a former pupil of The Royal School, Armagh, Northern Ireland;
he was a full-back in his younger days converting to wing whilst playing for
Ireland U-21s. Bowe played Gaelic football from U10 level with Emyvale, his
local GAA club and he also ran for the Glaslough Harriers and represented his local
parish Donagh in the All-Ireland Community Games and went to Mosney with the
Monaghan Relay team. He represented Monaghan at U16 and Minor level at Gaelic
football. Bowe also played rugby with Monaghan RFC at underage levels as well as
representing his primary school team. He attended the University of Ulster,
Jordanstown and played for the Queens University Belfast rugby team, earning a
selection to the Ireland U20 Team before moving to Belfast Harlequins. He
subsequently was capped at U21 level and was named as the Irish Rugby Union
Players Association (IRUPA) 'Young Player of the Year' in 2003
CLUB PROVINCIAL CAREER
Bowe received a call-up to the Ulster squad in the 2003–04
season, scoring on his debut against Connacht in a 42-27 win and soon made his
name as an Ulster automatic. He won the Guinness Ulster Rugby Personality of
the Year Award at the Ulster Rugby Awards Dinner in May 2005.On 25 January 2008
he said that he would leave Ulster at the end of the 2008 Celtic League season,
to join the Ospreys on a two-year deal where he proved himself as a brilliant finisher.
In his first season
with the Welsh club, he scored a club-record four European Cup tries in a match
against Treviso, as well as becoming the leading Magners League try-scorer,
having scored the most tries in the league's history an incredible personal
achievement .In 2008, he won both the Ulster and Ireland Player of the Year
awards.
2009 was an awsome year for Bowe, as he was an important
part of the Ireland that won the Six
Nations Grand Slam, before touring South Africa with the British & Irish
Lions later that year. He came second behind Jamie Roberts for the Player of
the Series. The following year he landed a number of individual accolades
including the Six Nations Player of the Championship, the IRUPA Players' Player
of the Year and the Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year.
In December 2009 it
was announced that Bowe had signed a 3-year extension with the Ospreys, keeping
him at the club until the end of the 2012/13 season. Bowe returned to Ulster at
the start of the 2012/13 season on a 3 year deal. He scored 2 tries on his
return for Ulster against Cardiff Blues and was an important part in the
province's league season, helping them to the Pro12 Final.
His first season back at Ulster was disrupted by injury, but
he recovered and was selected by Lions coach, Warren Gatland for the tour of
Australia
INTERNATIONAL CARER
Bowe made his senior international debut against the USA
during the 2004 Autumn Internationals becoming the first player from County
Monaghan to win an Ireland cap since the 1920s, marking his introduction to
test rugby with a second half try. Bowe won further caps during Ireland's tour
to Japan and their Autumn Internationals in 2005. With that experience and an
impressive run of form for Ulster in the Celtic League, he made the 22-man
panel for Ireland's 2006 Six Nations opener against Italy, and scored a try. After Ireland's poor first
half against France in the following Championship match, Bowe was cut from the
squad making allegations of him being made a scapegoat by Ireland boss Eddie
O'Sullivan.
An injury-plagued latter part of 2006 precipitated a
downturn in form, though a rejuvenated Bowe came back with 5 tries in 6 matches
to earn his place in Ireland's 2007 Six Nations squad. He failed to make the
Irish squad for the disappointing 2007 Rugby World Cup. Ireland has never had a
strong World Cup. Bowe earned himself a place in Ireland's original 2008 Six
Nations squad after a quality season with Ulster. He was overlooked for the
Ireland matchday squad to play Italy in the tournament's opening game, however,
despite his form. He was again dropped from the squad the following week when
Ireland were disappoint defeated by
France in Paris in a close match, however on 19 February 2008 Bowe was named in
the starting team at for the visit of Scotland to Croke Park, a match in which
he scored two tries. He then played in the losses to Wales and England.
At the start of 2008 Bowe made 2 starts against Argentina
and France in the 6 nations scoring Irelands only try against Argentina.
Bowe impressed as Ireland claimed their first win over
France in six years with 30–21 triumph. Their next game was against Italy.
Despite a performance that was upsetting, Bowe scored a try as Ireland romped
to a 38–9 win. After wins against England and Scotland, Ireland took on Wales
with a grand slam at stake. With Ireland trailing 6–0 at halftime they came out
firing as Brian O'Driscoll scored to put them 7–6 up. Then, from a Ronan O'Gara
chip, Bowe gathered and outpaced Williams also from Ospreys to score under the
posts for a try. Wales came back from 6–14 to go up 15–14 with six minutes
remaining, but O'Gara slotted a last gasp drop goal to give Ireland the lead
again. Wales had one more chance to snatch the game from Ireland with Jones
having a penalty on halfway with the final kick of the ball. But Jones missed
by a matter of inches and Ireland claimed a dramatic win and their first grand slam
in 61 years.
In February 2010 against England in the 2010 Six Nations
Championship, he scored two tries including the clinching try with five minutes
to go in a 20–16 win at Twickenham. In March 2010, Bowe was voted 2010 Six
Nations Player of the Championship, gaining over 50% of the vote.
Bowe continued to represent Ireland throughout 2010. He was
selected in Ireland's squad for the 2011 Six Nations Championship, and scored
the opening try of Ireland's demolition of a Grand-Slam chasing England on 19
March. He went to the 2011 Rugby World Cup, his first such tournament, and
scored a try against the USA in Ireland's opening Pool C game. He was selected
in the squad for the 2012 Six Nations Championship, during which he
rediscovered his try-scoring ability. scoring 5 tries in Ireland's first three
games, including braces against Italy and France.
LIONS CAREER
On 21 April 2009, Bowe was named as a member of the British
and Irish Lions squad for the 2009 tour
to South Africa. He made his the first start on the tour, versus a Royal XV and, in this
game, became the first try scorer of the 2009 tour. He then scored two tries
against the Golden Lions which contributed to him being picked for the test side. He wasn't included for the
next two games before coming back for the match against Western Province where
he scored his fourth try of the tour and set up another for Ugo Monye.
His form on the Tour was outstanding, winning him praise
from the press. On 18 June 2009, Ian McGeechan named Bowe in his test side to
face South Africa in Durban on 20 June where The Lions lost 26–21 . Bowe,
although holding his own in defence, wasn't given any room to run. He was again
selected on the wing for the second test. The Lions lost 28–25 due to a last
minute penalty by Morné Steyn to clinch the series for the |bocks. Bowe in this
game had more opportunities to run and was dangerous in attack. Due to injuries
to Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts, Bowe was selected at outside centre in a
partnership with Riki Flutey. He came second behind Jamie Roberts for the
Player of the Series award.
In April 2013 he was picked as a member of the 2013 British
& Irish Lions squad to tour Australia. While playing against the Queensland
Reds, Bowe broke a bone in his hand, which threatened to end his Lions tour. He
managed to recover from the injury in time to be included the team in the last
two tests against Australia, taking the place from Alex Cuthbert who had
replaced him while Bowe was out, but was unable to score any points. He played
in that game and the third and deciding test in Sydney and helped the Lions
achieve a historic series victory.
HONOURS
IRUPA Young Player of the Year 2004
Guinness Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year Award 2005
IRUPA Players' Player of the Year 2008
RBS Player of the Championship for the 2010 RBS 6 Nations
IRUPA Players' Player of the Year 2010
Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year 2010
TV WORK
Bowe was guest chef in episode two of series seven of The
Restaurant in 2010.
He appeared on RTÉ's The Late Late Show on 21 May 2010 where
he was quizzed on his version of the song "The Black Velvet Band"
which he sang during Ireland's Grand Slam celebrations.
Bowe was the focus of an RTÉ documentary Tommy Bowe's
Bodycheck, which examined what it takes to be a top professional rugby player.
FAMILY
His father, Paul, won a Leinster Schools' Cup medal with
Newbridge College on the 1970 team, captained by Mick Quinn and went on to win
a cap for Leinster Schools. Ann, his mother, is a physiotherapist in Co.
Monaghan and she runs her own practice. His sister, Hannah, is an Ireland
hockey international and she is also a member of the Monaghan ladies Gaelic
football team. His girlfriend is former Miss Wales Lucy Whitehouse.
IN MY OPINION TOMMY BOWE IS ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD AT THE MOMENT. I FEEL THAT HE CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ULSTER HAVING A GOOD AND A BAD SEASON. HE IS A WINGER THAT I LOVE AND HE CAN CHANGE A MATCH IN AN INSTANT AND CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE IN ULSTER HAVING A PLAY OFF SEASON AND FINISHING TH WITH THE WAY HE PLAYS. H WILL ALSO BE AN IMPORTANT PLAYER FOR IRELAND AS HE HAS ESTABLISHED HIMSELF THERE ALSO. I FEEL THAT HE CAN BE THE BEST IN THE WORLD AT HIS POSITION AND CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE IN HO FAR THEY CAN GO IN THE WOELD CUP.
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