An unintended year off footy has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Riverview and NSW Gen Blue flyhalf Jack Bowen.

The Chatswood junior suffered an almost identical injury to Gen Blue team mate Ned Slack Smith in 2020 but still found a way to develop his game last year from the sidelines.

“After the Covid break, we had a training camp to get ready for our first game and it was in the very last team run of that camp,” Bowen told Rugby News.