The former Welsh hooker has ruled out standing for the Senedd in May 2026
Former Welsh rugby star Ken Owens has said speaking at the Welsh Labour conference would have made his grandparents prouder than his playing days.
The retired star, who had been rumoured to be standing as a Senedd candidate for Labour, is not going to stand for election to the Senedd in 2026. He introduced the First Minister, Eluned Morgan as a supporter as she went on stage to speak to party members at the Welsh Labour conference in Llandudno.
Owens, who comes from a longstanding Welsh Labour-supporting family, said he first met Eluned Morgan when he was out leafleting for her bid to the European Parliament when he was seven. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
“I’ve achieved a hell of a lot in my rugby career but for my grandparents, I think this would be a ‘pinch-me’ moment, they’d be even prouder I get to speak at Labour party conference,” he said.
“Most of you know me from the rugby field, a few scrums, a few scars, and more than a few hard-fought wins, and for Labour going to be going through a few battles over the next couple of years, and we’re in it together.
“Being captain is so much more than leading the team. It’s about carrying a nation, I was lucky enough to do that a few times on the rugby field.
“A nation that sings together, that backs its own and believes in community, in graft and will never give up. that’s not just rugby, that’s Wales, that’s Labour.
“That’s why I’m here. I was raised in a Labour household, with my grandparents where I first met Eluned. She wouldn’t want me to say this but leafleting as a seven-year-old for her campaign to the European election.
“I grew up hearing about fairness, standing up for your community because that’s the right thing to do.
“That what Eluned Morgan gets. She’s grounded, passionate, driven, she doesn’t just talk about Wales but fights for it.
“I’ve played for great coaches, the best leaders know it’s about them, it’s about building belief in the team, and that’s Eluned, that’s what she’s doing in Welsh Labour, delivering for people on the things that matter most in their lives.
“As a party we are proud of what we represent,” he said.
He said what got his rugby teams through tough times was “trust, teamwork, knowing who you’re playing for, not yourself, the cap, the dragon, the people we represent. That’s what we have to represent now,” he said.
“Let’s be honest, the opposition is fighting from the sidelines, but let’s be honest, none of them are fit to lead this team,” he said.
In return, the First Minister – who arrived on stage to Don’t Stop Me Now, by Queen, said she remembered meeting his mum and that his grandad was “a Labour legend in Carmarthen”.
“I will never forget though – the time when I was canvassing with a lovely woman in Carmarthen and I was telling her with real pride how I couldn’t stay for more than an hour’s campaigning because my son, who was 12, was going to be playing rugby in the Cardiff Arms Park for his school.
‘”Oh,’ she asked, “is he any good at rugby?’ ‘Well, he’s alright,’ I said. ‘Oh, my son plays rugby too,’ “Oh, is he any good?” I asked…’Well, he’s out playing with the Lions at the moment!!” That was Ken’s lovely mum.”
