Ronnie Cowan (rugby)
Ronald "Ron"/"Ronnie" C. Cowan (born 26 November 1941) is a Scottish former rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for the British Lions, and Scotland, and at club level for Selkirk RFC, as a wing, i.e. number 11 or 14,[1][2] and representative level rugby league (RL) for Other Nationalities, and at club level for Leeds and Hull F.C. (Heritage №), as a wing, or centre, i.e. number 2 or 5, or, 3 or 4.
Background
Ronnie Cowan was born in Selkirk, Scotland.
Rugby union playing career
Ronnie Cowan was capped five times for Scotland in 1961-62.[2] He also played for Selkirk RFC. He went on the 1962 British Lions tour to South Africa.[1]
Rugby league playing career
Ronnie Cowan transferred to Leeds during the 1962–63 season,[1] and scored 119-tries during his rugby league career.
International honours
Ronnie Cowan represented Other Nationalities (RL) while at Leeds, he was an interchange/substitute in the 2-19 defeat by St. Helens at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Wednesday 27 January 1965, to mark the switching-on of new floodlights.[3]
Challenge Cup Final appearances
Ronnie Cowan played left-centre, i.e. number 4, (replaced by interchange/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.
County Cup Final appearances
Ronnie Cowan played right wing, i.e. number 2, in Leeds' 2-18 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1964–65 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1964–65 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 31 October 1964, and played left-centre, i.e. number 4, in the 23-7 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1970–71 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1970–71 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 21 November 1970.
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances
Ronnie Cowan played left-centre, i.e. number 4, in Leeds' 9-5 victory over St. Helens in the 1970 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1970–71 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Tuesday 15 December 1970.
Genealogical information
Ron Cowan is the son of the rugby union and rugby league footballer for Hull F.C.; James "Jim"/"Jimmy" Cowan, and the younger brother of the rugby union, and rugby league footballer; Stan Cowan.[4]
Notes
- Bath, Richard (ed.) The Scotland Rugby Miscellany (Vision Sports Publishing Ltd, 2007 ISBN 1-905326-24-6)
- Massie, Allan A Portrait of Scottish Rugby (Polygon, Edinburgh; ISBN 0-904919-84-6)
References
- Bath, p118
- Bath, p88
- Cook, H.B. (1965). Programme - St. Helens versus Other Nationalities. St. Helens Rugby F.C. Ltd.
- "Rugby league's Borders greats are honoured". bordertelegraph.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
External links
- Statistics at en.espn.co.uk
- Search for "Cowan" at rugbyleagueproject.org
- Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org