Ronnie Cowan (rugby)

Last updated

Ronnie Cowan
Personal information
Full nameRonnie C. Cowan
Born (1941-11-26) 26 November 1941 (age 83)
Playing information
Rugby union
PositionWing
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
Selkirk RFC
Barbarians
Total00000
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1961–62 Scotland 50000
1962 British Lions 11003
Rugby league
Position Wing, Centre
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1962–72 Leeds 23211900357
1972–74 Hull FC 122006
1974 Keighley
Total24412100363
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1965 Other Nationalities
Relatives Stan Cowan (brother)

Ronald C. Cowan (born 26 November 1941) is a Scottish former rugby union and professional rugby league player who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played international rugby union for Scotland and the British Lions, and at club level for Selkirk RFC, as a wing, [1] [2] In rugby league he played at club level for Leeds and Hull FC, as a wing or centre, and for Other Nationalities.

Contents

Background

Cowan was born in Selkirk, Scotland. Cowan is the son of Jimmy Cowan, the rugby union and rugby league player for Hull F.C., and the younger brother of the rugby union and rugby league player Stan Cowan. [3]

Rugby union career

Cowan played for Selkirk RFC. He was capped five times for Scotland in 1961–62. [2] He went on the 1962 tour of South Africa, Rhodesia and Kenya, aged 20, and played in ten games, scoring four tries. [1] He won one cap, in the fourth test against South Africa, scoring a try.

Rugby league career

Cowan transferred to Leeds during the 1962–63 season, [1] and scored 119 tries for the club.

Cowan played on the wing in Leeds' 2–18 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1964–65 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1964–65 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 31 October 1964, and played at centre in the 23–7 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1970–71 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1970–71 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 21 November 1970.[ citation needed ]

Cowan played at centre in Leeds' 9–5 victory over St. Helens in the 1970 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1970–71 season at Headingley, Leeds on Tuesday 15 December 1970.

Cowan played at centre (replaced by substitute Les Dyl) in Leeds' 7–24 defeat by Leigh in the 1970–71 Challenge Cup Final during the 1970–71 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 15 May 1971, in front of a crowd of 85,514.

He transferred to Hull in 1972, [4] before finishing his career at Keighley. [5]

Representative

Cowan represented Other Nationalities while at Leeds, he was a substitute in the 2–19 defeat by St. Helens at Knowsley Road on 27 January 1965, to mark the switching-on of new floodlights. [6]

Notes

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bath, p118
  2. 1 2 Bath, p88
  3. "Rugby league's Borders greats are honoured". bordertelegraph.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  4. "Legend: Ronnie Cowan". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  5. "Rugby League Heroes: Ron Cowan". Total Rugby League. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  6. Cook, H.B. (1965). Programme – St. Helens versus Other Nationalities. St. Helens Rugby F.C. Ltd.