Michael Owen's rugby union career took him from the valleys of his native south Wales to Pontypridd, the Newport Gwent Dragons and the glory of captaining Wales to Grand Slam glory in 2005 and later leading the British Lions. One of Wales' most naturally talented rugby players, he moved to the English Premiership with Saracens before injury cruelly cut him down in his prime. By 29, his vocation as a professional rugby player was over.