Bowen first played first-class rugby for Llanelli, and was on the brink of winning his first cap for the Welsh union team when he switched to league.
Bowen was a trialist in 1938 and managed to play in front of the selectors on the side of the 'Probables', but on leaving the field he was approached by officials from Wigan.
The club offered him a ten-year contract,[6] and when Bowen accepted he severed his links from the union code by becoming professional.
Jackie Bowen played loose forward in Wigan's 10–7 victory over Salford in the 1938–39 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1938–39 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 22 October 1938.
Bowen settled in Wigan, becoming a publican in the city, and marrying local girl Phyllis Brown,[10] they had children; Benjamin J. Keith Bowenduring fourth quarter 1941 (age 83–84) in Ince district),[11] and Margaret A. Bowen during third quarter 1943 (age 81–82) in Ince district).