Cardiff's Tom Bowen bags brace to reach 13 tries in 21 games and lift side to second in URC

Tom Bowen crossed twice as Cardiff Rugby beat Zebre Parma 47-27 at the Arms Park last Friday, lifting the Welsh region to second place in the URC table and pushing the 20-year-old winger’s tally to 13 tries from 21 appearances across all competitions.

Wales legend Shane Williams was in attendance to watch Bowen’s double, and the comparisons are hard to avoid. At 5ft 7ins and 11st 11lbs, Bowen shares not only Williams’s slight frame but also his pace and side-stepping instinct — qualities on full display when he stepped inside one defender and handed off another to finish his first try of the evening.

“I think we are pretty similar in terms of our stature,” Bowen said of Williams’s presence in the stands. “The main thing for us shorter and smaller guys is just back yourself, especially against the bigger guys. Zebre are a big team and you’ve just got to back your instinct and go for it.”

Bowen was measured in his assessment of a result that moves Cardiff up the standings, preferring to focus on the collective rather than his own milestone. “I am just loving my rugby and I’m grateful for all the opportunities I am having, especially in such an important year for the club — the 150th year. I just feel really lucky to be honest.”

The Wales Under-20s international arrives at this season with considerable momentum. He was named the URC Next-Gen Player of last season following a media vote, and also collected Cardiff’s Breakthrough Player of the Season and Fans’ Player of the Season awards. His try in the play-off clinching win over the DHL Stormers was voted the club’s Try of the Season.

“It was very unexpected,” Bowen said of the Next-Gen award. “It was such a good award to win, especially in a league where there are so many talented youngsters. It’s something I can spring off now this season and hopefully back it up.”

Reflecting on Cardiff’s historic run to the URC play-offs for the first time last term, Bowen was clear about what it meant. “It was a pretty special year. It was nice for the group and it’s what we deserved. For me to break through in the season that we had was very special.”

With Cardiff sitting second in the table and Bowen already among the competition’s most prolific finishers, the winger’s message heading into the weeks ahead is straightforward: “I’m just focused on getting minutes for Cardiff, putting in good performances and building on last year.”