View source for Ben Flower

{{short description|Wales international rugby league footballer}}
{{for|the baseball player|Ben Flowers}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|first          = RU
|name           = Ben Flower
|fullname       = Benjamin Thomas Flower<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/xMyPf6Fi4TfBzJUtaN5XuM7Z3cM/appointments Companies House]</ref>
|image          = Ben Flower Wigan.jpg
|image_size     = 290
|caption        =
|birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1987|10|19|df=y}}
|birth_place    = [[Cardiff, Wales]]
|height         = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}
|weight         = {{convert|17|st|2|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crusadersrfl.com/teammember.php?id=143|title=Crusaders Rugby League|work=web page|publisher=Crusaders Rugby League Club|access-date=7 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720143534/http://www.crusadersrfl.com/teammember.php?id=143|archive-date=20 July 2011|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
|position       = {{rlp|PR|LF}}
| ru_club1        = {{nowrap|[[Dragons (rugby union)|Newport Gwent Dragons]]}}
| ru_year1start   = 
| ru_year1end     = 
| ru_appearances1 = 0
| ru_tries1       = 0
| ru_goals1       = 0
| ru_fieldgoals1  = 0
| ru_points1      = 0
| ru_club2        = {{nowrap|[[Bedwas RFC]]}}
| ru_year2start   = 2008
| ru_year2end     = 
| ru_appearances2 = 0
| ru_tries2       = 0
| ru_goals2       = 0
| ru_fieldgoals2  = 0
| ru_points2      = 0
| ru_club3        = {{nowrap|[[Pontypool RFC]]}}
| ru_year3start   = 2021
| ru_year3end     = 
| ru_appearances3 = 0
| ru_tries3       = 0
| ru_goals3       = 0
| ru_fieldgoals3  = 0
| ru_points3      = 0
|club1          = [[Crusaders Rugby League|Crusaders RL]]
|year1start     = 2008
|year1end       = 11
|appearances1   = 66
|tries1         = 7
|goals1         = 0
|fieldgoals1    = 0
|points1        = 28
|club2          = {{nowrap|→ [[South Wales Ironmen|S Wales Scorpions]]}} 
|year2start     = 2010<small>(loan)</small>
|year2end       = 
|appearances2   = 4
|tries2         = 1
|goals2         = 0
|fieldgoals2    = 0
|points2        = 4
|club3          = [[Wigan Warriors]]
|year3start     = 2012
|year3end       = 20
|appearances3   = 184
|tries3         = 21
|goals3         = 0
|fieldgoals3    = 0
|points3        = 84
|club4          = [[Leigh Centurions]]
|year4start     = 2021
|year4end       = 
|appearances4   = 5
|tries4         = 0
|goals4         = 0
|fieldgoals4    = 0
|points4        = 0
|teamA          = [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]]
|yearAstart     = 2008
|yearAend       = 13
|appearancesA   = 17
|triesA         = 1
|goalsA         = 0
|fieldgoalsA    = 0
|pointsA        = 4
|source         = <ref name="Profile at loverugbyleague.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Ben-Flower|title=Profile at loverugbyleague.com|publisher=loverugbyleague.com|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/ben-flower/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>
|updated        = 28 Sep 2021
}}

'''Ben Flower''' (born 19 October 1987) is a Welsh professional former [[rugby league]] footballer who last played as a {{rlp|pr}} for the [[Leigh Centurions]] in the [[Super League]], and has played for [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]] at international level.

He previously played as a {{rlp|sr}} and {{rlp|lf}} for [[Crusaders Rugby League]] in the [[Super League]], and spent time away from [[Crusaders Rugby League|Crusaders RL]] on loan at the [[South Wales Scorpions]] in [[2010 Championship 1|Championship 1]]. Flower also spent 9 seasons at the [[Wigan Warriors]] in the top flight.<ref name="Profile at loverugbyleague.com"/><ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/>

He punched [[Lance Hohaia]] in the face twice in the second minute of [[Super League Grand Final|the Super League Grand Final]] in 2014, including once while Hohaia was lying on the ground, which led to a six-month ban.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

==Background==
Flower was born in [[Cardiff, Wales]].

==Playing career==
===Early career and Crusaders===
An under-17 international when at [[Cardiff Demons]], Flower also played for Wales in [[rugby union]] at under 18, under 19 and under 20 level. He was signed by the [[Crusaders Rugby League|Crusaders]] from Welsh Premiership rugby union side [[Bedwas RFC]], having also played for regional side [[Dragons (rugby union)|Newport Gwent Dragons]].
[[File:Ben Flower.JPG|thumb|right|400px|Flower playing for Crusaders RL in 2009]]
Flower progressed as a professional [[rugby league]] footballer throughout 2007, starting in [[Crusaders Colts]] before becoming a regular in the Crusaders first team and winning his first full Welsh cap in 2008. He played for Crusaders in their first [[Super League]] season in 2009, and remained with the club until their departure from the league in 2011, after which he signed for [[Wigan Warriors]].

In 2010, Flower was loaned from Crusaders to [[South Wales Ironmen|South Wales Scorpions]] of [[League 1 (rugby league)|Championship 1]], and made four appearances for the club, scoring one try.

===Wigan Warriors===
====2012====
Flower made 18 appearances in his first season with Wigan.

====2013====
In 2013, he established himself as a first-choice player and was a member of the team that won the [[2013 Challenge Cup Final]] with victory over [[Hull F.C.]] at [[Wembley Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/23794947|title= Hull FC 0-16 Wigan Warriors|date=24 August 2013|work= BBC Sport|access-date=13 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/aug/24/hull-fc-wigan-warriors-challenge-cup-final|title= Wigan Warriors overcome Hull FC and elements to win Challenge Cup|date=24 August 2013|work= The Guardian|access-date=13 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.skysports.com/rugbyleague/match_report/0,,11070_3660839,00.html|title= Wigan Warriors grind out victory over Hull|date=24 August 2013|work= Sky Sports|access-date=13 November 2019}}</ref>

He played in the [[2013 Super League Grand Final]] victory over the [[Warrington Wolves]] at [[Old Trafford]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Super League Grand Final |url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/super_league/grandfinal |publisher=Super League |access-date=14 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729050226/http://www.superleague.co.uk/super_league/grandfinal |archive-date=29 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Newsum|first=Matt|title=Super League Grand Final: Wigan Warriors beat Warrington|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24384930|access-date=13 November 2019|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=5 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Super League Grand Final: Warrington v Wigan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24339698|work=BBC Sport|access-date=13 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/10358228/Super-League-Grand-Final-2013-Warrington-Wolves-16-Wigan-Warriors-30-match-report.html|title= Warrington Wolves 16 Wigan Warriors 30|date=5 October 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=13 November 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/oct/05/warrington-wigan-super-league-grand-final|title= Wigan see off Warrington in X-rated Grand Final to complete double|date=5 October 2013|work=The Guardian |access-date=13 November 2019}}</ref>

====Lance Hohaia incident====
On 11 October 2014 Flower became the first player to be sent off in a [[2014 Super League Grand Final|Super League Grand Final]] after being shown a red card in the second minute of the match for twice punching [[Lance Hohaia]] of [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]] in the face, including once while Hohaia was lying on the ground.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/rugby-league/29416637|title=Super League Grand Final: St Helens v Wigan Warriors as it happened |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref name="AWilson_gaurd1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/11/wigan-ben-flowers-st-helens-grand-final|title=Wigan's Ben Flower hammered for Super League Grand Final punches|author=Andy Wilson|work=The Guardian|date=11 October 2014 }}</ref> Wigan went on to lose the match after playing with a man down for 78 minutes.<ref name="AWilson_gaurd1" /> Flower was subsequently given a six-month ban by the RFL disciplinary committee, the longest in the competition's history for an on-field act.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|title=Ben Flower: Wigan prop banned for Lance Hohaia punch|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/29612687|access-date=14 October 2014|work=BBC Sport|date=14 October 2014}}</ref> Hohaia retired from rugby league on 29 April 2015, citing recurrent concussion symptoms as the reason.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12040/9828068/st-helens-half-back-lance-hohaia-retires-with-immediate-effect|title=Lance Hohaia retires due to health concerns|date=30 April 2015|website=SkySports|publisher=[[Sky Sports]]|access-date=30 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/32525472|access-date=3 December 2017|title=Lance Hohaia retires because of 'recurrent concussion symptoms|date=29 April 2015|author=Kieran Fox|work=BBC Sport }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/11156623/St-Helens-14-Wigan-Warriors-6-Moment-of-madness-from-Wales-international-Ben-Flower-costs-Wigan-dear.html|title= St Helens 14 Wigan Warriors 6: Moment of madness from Wales international Ben Flower costs Wigan dear|date= 11 October 2014 |work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=15 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/11/st-helens-wigan-super-league-grand-final-match-report|title= St Helens win Grand Final after Wigan's Ben Flower is sent off|date= 11 October 2014 |work=The Guardian |access-date=15 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/29559845|title= St Helens 14–6 Wigan Warriors|date= 11 October 2014 |work=BBC Sport|access-date=15 October 2014}}</ref>

==== 2015 ====
Flower made his comeback against Warrington Wolves on 16 April. He was wished well ahead of his return by Lance Hohaia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/st-helens-star-lance-hohaia-wishes-ben-flower-all-the-best-ahead-of-prop-s-comeback-1-7210809|title=St Helens star Lance Hohaia wishes Ben Flower 'all the best' ahead of prop's comeback|website=wigantoday.net|language=en|access-date=2018-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124070716/https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/st-helens-star-lance-hohaia-wishes-ben-flower-all-the-best-ahead-of-prop-s-comeback-1-7210809|archive-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> He went on to make 19 appearances scoring four tries.

He played in the [[2015 Super League Grand Final]] defeat by the [[Leeds Rhinos]] at [[Old Trafford]].<ref name="Leeds pip Wigan to seal treble after brilliant, breathless Grand Final">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/10/leeds-wigan-super-league-grand-final-match-report|title=Leeds pip Wigan to seal treble after brilliant, breathless Grand Final|work=The Guardian|date=10 October 2015|access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref>

==== 2016 ====
In early February he signed a new four-year deal running till the end of 2020 despite interest from other Super League and NRL clubs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors/flower-stays-loyal-to-warriors-1-7734649|title=Flower stays loyal to Warriors|website=wigantoday.net|language=en|access-date=2018-01-23}}</ref> His 27 appearances across the season saw him score three tries.

He played in the [[2016 Super League Grand Final]] victory over the [[Warrington Wolves]] at [[Old Trafford]].<ref name="Warrington 6-12 Wigan: Super League Grand Final – as it happened!">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/oct/08/super-league-grand-final-warrington-wigan-live|title=Warrington 6-12 Wigan: Super League Grand Final – as it happened!|work=The Guardian|date=8 October 2016|access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref>

==== 2017 ====
Flower helped Wigan win a fourth World Club Challenge in the 22-6 victory over Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. He made a good start to the season before after 13 appearances he suffered an [[Achilles tendon]] injury ending his season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors/body-blow-for-escare-1-8526036|title=Body blow for Escare|website=wigantoday.net|language=en|access-date=2018-01-23}}</ref>

====2018====
He played in the [[2018 Super League Grand Final]] victory over the [[Warrington Wolves]] at [[Old Trafford]].<ref name="Super League Grand Final 2018: Wigan 12-4 Warrington – as it happened">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2018/oct/13/super-league-grand-final-2018-wigan-warriors-v-warrington-wolves-live?page=with:block-5bc1ff43e4b05798be94cc63#liveblog-navigation|title=Super League Grand Final 2018: Wigan 12-4 Warrington – as it happened|work=The Guardian|date=13 October 2018|access-date=5 November 2019}}</ref>

====2019====
Flower played 18 games for Wigan in 2019 including their shock semi-final loss against Salford.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/wigan-vs-salford/52328/|title=Salford seal maiden Super League Grand Final appearance|website=www.skysports.com}}</ref>

====2020====
Flower played only nine games for Wigan in the 2020 season.  In the semi-final victory over Hull F.C., Flower was taken from the field in the second half with a leg injury.  He was later ruled out of the [[2020 Super League Grand Final]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/12141162/ben-flower-wigan-warriors-front-rower-to-miss-super-league-grand-final-against-st-helens/|title= Wigan Warriors front-rower to miss Super League Grand Final against St Helens|website=www.skysports.com}}</ref> It was announced on 30 November 2020 that Flower would join [[Leigh Centurions]] for the 2021 season<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55134878|title=Ben Flower: Wigan Warriors prop forward joins Championship side Leigh Centurions|work=BBC Sport |date=30 November 2020 |access-date=16 Dec 2020}}</ref>

====2021====
Flower retired from [[rugby league]] and signed for Welsh [[rugby union]] club [[Pontypool RFC]] in the Welsh Championship 2021.<ref>{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|date=27 Sep 2021|accessdate=28 Sep 2021|title=Ben Flower: Retired Wales rugby league prop switches codes to join Pontypool|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58710628}}</ref>

==International career==
Flower made his [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]] début against [[England national rugby league team|England]] while at Celtic Crusaders in 2008.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/>

He represented Wales in the [[2010 European Cup]], and the [[2011 Rugby League Four Nations]], and was named in the squad for the [[2013 Rugby League World Cup]].<ref name="Crusaders dominate Wales' squad">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7642490.stm|title=Crusaders dominate Wales' squad|publisher=BBC|date=3 October 2008|access-date=1 January 2012}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.wiganwarriors.com/teams/first-team/ben-flower Wigan Warriors profile]
*(archived by web.archive.org) {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110720143534/http://www.crusadersrfl.com/teammember.php?id=143 Crusaders profile]}}
*[https://www.superleague.co.uk/player/324/ben%3Cbr-%3Eflower SL profile]
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20110617030115/http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/Personnel.aspx?pr=165383 Newport Gwent Dragons profile]
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20101014202337/http://www.wru.co.uk/13806.php Off the Pitch: Facts and Success]
* {{Twitter}}
* {{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/15777086| title=Wigan Warriors to develop Welsh youngsters| work=[[BBC Sport]]| date=17 November 2011| access-date=13 October 2014}}

{{Navboxes
|title= Wigan Warriors squads
| bg=red
| fg=white
| bordercolor=red
|list1=
{{Wigan Warriors - 2013 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Wigan Warriors - 2013 Super League Grand Final winners}}
{{Wigan Warriors - 2016 Super League Grand Final winners}}
{{Wigan Warriors - 2017 World Club Challenge winners}}
{{Wigan Warriors - 2018 Super League Grand Final winners}}
}}
{{Wales squad 2011 Rugby League Four Nations}}
{{Wales 2013 Rugby League World Cup squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flower, Ben}}
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen]]
[[Category:Bedwas RFC players]]
[[Category:Crusaders Rugby League players]]
[[Category:Dragons RFC players]]
[[Category:Footballers who switched code]]
[[Category:Leigh Leopards players]]
[[Category:Pontypool RFC players]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Cardiff]]
[[Category:Rugby league props]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Cardiff]]
[[Category:South Wales Scorpions players]]
[[Category:Wales national rugby league team captains]]
[[Category:Wales national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby league players]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby union players]]
[[Category:Wigan Warriors players]]