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. 

“I went through the line, got tackled from behind and tore my meniscus and ended up doing nine months of rehab.

Bowen said he spent his time off working on his understanding of the game, something that seems to be paying dividends this season. 

“I think it made me a smarter, more mature player. I got to sit back for a year and watch a lot of rugby from a different angle and I think that has really helped this year. 

“I’ve got a lot more confidence managing a team now after spending that time watching. I also watched a lot of Super Rugby and tried to pick up how they managed certain situations in a game.”

Riverview have been arguably the form GPS team this season and kicked off their campaign with a 38-12 victory over Shore in the opening round before the holidays. 

Bowen scored two tries and fourteen points in that round one clash but admitted he and his Riverview teammates will have bigger challenges ahead. 

“It’s probably the hardest working team that I’ve been involved in, on and off the field. We’re a really close bunch of boys and we all really enjoy playing together. 

“We’re mostly year 12 boys and have gone through the age groups playing together. We like to play an exciting, expansive style and play with plenty of energy. 

“It’s a really tight competition. Joeys, Scots and Kings are all really strong and Newington and Shore are probably the strongest they’ve been in a few years. 

“Anyone can beat anyone on their day so we’re going need to be consistent every week.”

Riverview play Newington in round two when rugby hopefully resumes in the coming weeks, ahead of three bumper back to back clashes against Scots, Kings and Joeys in what could be a season deciding match. 

“We’re trying not to look ahead but it’s hard not to dream about playing Joeys for the title. 

“It’d be such an exciting thing to be involved in. We played Joeys in the final game of our 15 A’s season when we were both undefeated and we scored with about two minutes to go to beat them, so it would be great to experience that again.”

Bowen plans to study a business degree when he graduates at the end of the year, but is still unsure where he’ll play his club footy. 

The ambitious playmaker has been part of the Gen Blue program since he was 14 and will continue to train with the Waratahs in the years to come. 

“The Gen Blue program is great and the pathway is really clear now from junior teams through to playing Super Rugby. I’m sure the Waratahs are going to start to get results soon on the back of how strong the development program is. 

“At the moment, I’m excited to get back playing with Riverview and hopefully win a title there. 

“NSW Rugby sent an email last week and said we’re going to play two Gen Blue games later this year and then they’ll pick the Australian U18s team so that’s something to look forward to, but school footy is the focus first.”