Owen Watkin
Cap No 1140
Owen Watkin graduated from being an U20 Grand Slammer in 2016 to a member of the senior Wales side that completed a clean sweep in the Guinness Six Nations three years later. Having made his regional debut for the Ospreys in September, 2015 as an 18-year-old, he has developed into a mainstay at the Liberty Stadium. After his breakthrough season in 2015/16 he suffered an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury in training in July, 2016, and was forced to spend more than a year on the sidelines.
Having learned his rugby at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd, Bridgend College and Bryncethin RFC, he played for Wales U18 on tour in South Africa in 2014 and moved up into the Wales U20 side for the 2015 and 2016 Six Nations campaigns. He also played at the 2015 Word Rugby Junior Championship.
A product of the Ospreys Academy, he signed his first professional contract with his home region in 2016 having also featured for his hometown team, Bridgend Ravens. He received his first senior Wales call in the autumn of 2017 when he was named in a 36-man squad for the November Tests.
His full international debut soon arrived when he appeared off the bench to replace Owen Williams in the 68th minute of the 29-21 defeat by Australia at Principality Stadium. The following Saturday, November 18, 2017, he made his first start for his country against Georgia in Cardiff, playing the full 80 minutes in a 13-6 success.
In the 2018 Six Nations he won two more caps against Scotland and Italy and went on to play twice on the summer tour. He began the 22-20 victory over South Africa in Washington DC and also the 30-12 win against Argentina in Santa Fe. He was involved in all four autumn internationals later that year.
In the 2019 6 Nations he played a part of all five games as Wales sealed the Grand Slam and Triple Crown. Four of those five appearances came as a replacement, although he did start the second round clash with Italy in Rome. He marked that match with his first international try in the 69th minute as he ran on to a chip ahead by Gareth Anscombe.
