, ▁on ▁ 1 2 ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 2 . ▁O w ens ▁made ▁his ▁C elt ic ▁League ▁debut ▁on ▁ 3 0 ▁August ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁ref ere eing ▁Border ▁Re ivers ▁and ▁Con n acht . ▁ ▁O w ens ▁was ▁a ▁regular ▁ref eree ▁on ▁the ▁International ▁Rugby ▁Board ▁World ▁Se vens ▁Series ▁circuit ▁between ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 5 . ▁On ▁ 1 6 ▁February ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁O w ens ▁had ▁his ▁first ▁ 1 5 - a - side ▁international ▁appointment , ▁ref ere eing ▁the ▁second - t ier ▁match ▁Portugal ▁v ▁Georgia ▁during ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 3 – 0 4 ▁European ▁Nations ▁Cup ▁First ▁Division . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁O w ens ▁earned ▁his ▁first ▁International ▁Rugby ▁Board ▁appointment , ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁the ▁first ▁test ▁of ▁the ▁Irish ▁tour ▁of ▁Japan ▁in ▁Os aka . ▁During ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 5 / 0 6 ▁season , ▁O w ens ▁became ▁a ▁regular ▁appointment ▁at ▁both ▁C elt ic ▁League ▁and ▁He ine ken ▁Cup ▁level , ▁making ▁six ▁appearances ▁during ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 5 – 0 6 ▁He ine ken ▁Cup . ▁ ▁O w ens ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁his ▁first ▁play - off / k no ck - out ▁rugby ▁match ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁when ▁he ▁ref ere ed