**Ken Owens: Welsh Rugby Great Weighs Move into Politics Ahead of Senedd Election**
Ken Owens, one of the most recognisable names in Welsh rugby, is reportedly contemplating a dramatic switch from sport to politics, with speculation mounting that he may seek election to the Senedd as a Labour candidate in 2026. The move would mark a significant new chapter for the 38-year-old, who has already demonstrated leadership of the highest calibre during his tenure as the Wales rugby captain.
Owens, who earned 96 caps for Wales and the British & Irish Lions, as well as making an impressive 274 appearances for the Scarlets, hung up his boots last year following a career-ending back injury. His final campaign saw him lead his country in the 2023 Six Nations, but an extended spell on the sidelines forced him into retirement – earlier than many might have hoped.
Since leaving professional rugby, Owens has remained active in Welsh sport and public life. He currently serves as a non-executive director for Cardiff Dragons, the top-level netball outfit, and is involved in European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), contributing to disciplinary decisions. Additionally, he has featured in media roles for S4C, showcasing his adaptability and continued engagement with national life.
The reports of a potential political run surfaced via BBC Wales, suggesting Owens is considering standing in the newly created Sir Gaerfyrddin constituency at the next Senedd election. This area, based in Carmarthenshire—Owens’s home county—will represent a new political battleground, with neither Llanelli MS Lee Waters nor Mid and West Wales MS Joyce Watson seeking re-election. As Labour does not currently have a chosen candidate for the seat, Owens’s involvement would inject both name recognition and local credibility into the race.
His relationship with Labour is well documented. Owens has already made public appearances in support of the party, sharing a stage in Carmarthenshire with Labour leader Keir Starmer and then-Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething prior to the last UK general election. He also participated in campaign videos for prominent Welsh MPs, including Alex Davies-Jones and Nia Griffith, and attended national receptions, such as the St David’s Day event at Downing Street, alongside fellow rugby greats like Alun Wyn Jones.
Owens’s time as captain of Wales was notable not just for his leadership on the field, but also for his crucial role during a crisis off it. During the 2023 Six Nations, he played a leading part in resolving a contractual dispute between the Wales squad and the Welsh Rugby Union that threatened to see players strike before an important fixture against England. According to then-interim WRU CEO Nigel Walker, Owens’s intervention was vital. “If Ken were not the man he is, if he had not made the contribution he did, the threatened players’ strike might have gone ahead,” Walker reflected during an S4C documentary. “The Welsh rugby landscape would have looked completely different.”
Owens himself described that episode as a low point in Welsh rugby, saying: “This is the worst moment I have ever witnessed in the Welsh game since I have been a professional player. It was very close towards the end. I would have been happy not to take the field against England with the other players. That’s how we feel.”
Should Owens pursue a political path, he would join a small but notable group of Welsh sports stars turned politicians. Former Wales Women international Tonia Antoniazzi, for example, is now Labour MP for Gower. Owens’s experience of teamwork, negotiation, and high-stakes leadership could serve him and his potential constituents well in Cardiff Bay’s debating chamber.
At present, Owens has not issued a definitive statement regarding his future ambitions. Nevertheless, his consideration reveals the growing interplay between sport, public service, and representation in Welsh civic life. With new political landscapes set to emerge at the 2026 elections, the potential candidacy of a figure such as Ken Owens will be watched with both interest and expectation by supporters, constituents, and political rivals alike.
As Welsh rugby undergoes its own period of transformation, it is perhaps fitting that one of its most influential recent leaders could soon seek to play an equally prominent role in shaping the nation’s future from the Senedd floor.