'Student' Cowan expected to play
Tue, 13 May 2008 10:09
Highlanders management has denied a report that scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan will be dropped for Saturday's Super 14 clash against the Crusaders after being charged with disorderly conduct.
The 26-year-old is to appear in Dunedin District Court on Friday after an alleged incident early on Sunday morning following the Highlanders loss to the Blues at Carisbrook on Saturday.
Police declined to confirm the player arrested was Cowan but confirmed a 26-year-old man was arrested at 06.25 on Sunday and charged with behaving in a disorderly manner.
Police said the player listed his occupation as a student.
While details haven't been confirmed, it is understood it was a fairly minor incident that didn't involve any property damage.
Cowan was understood to have spent time in police custody from about 06.30 on Sunday.
A radio report on Tuesday suggested Cowan was likely to be dropped from the Highlanders team to play the table-topping Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.
But Highlanders chief executive Richard Reid today denied the No.9 wouldn't be considered for the match.
"The only way in which a player would not be considered would be because they were unavailable," Reid told the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA).
"As far as I'm aware, he's available.
"Any internal disciplinary action would have to await the result of Cowan's court appearance.
"You can't prejudge anything.
"If anyone has an issue before the courts that goes first and then the employer-employee thing clicks in after that," he added.
Reid said the Highlanders were making no comment on Cowan's situation.
"He's got a lawyer. We haven't got anything to add," he stated.
Cowan is expected to be represented in court by high-profile Dunedin lawyer Judith Ablett-Kerr QC.
In 2005, the Rugby Union suspended Cowan for a week when he was sent home early from a Junior All Blacks tour of Australia after an incident in a bar.
Reid denied there was a drinking culture in the team and said Highlanders players were no worse behaved off the field than others.
