Neil Cowie


Neil Fraser Cowie is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Rochdale Hornets and Wigan Warriors, as a, i.e. number 8 or 10.

Background

Neil Cowie was born in Todmorden, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

Cowie signed for Rochdale Hornets in 1986 and went on to make 16 appearances in his first season. Over the next four seasons he became a regular in the Rochdale Hornets front row, occasionally playing as a. His blockbusting performances caught the attention of Wigan and he signed for them at the end of the 1990-91 season.
During the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season, Cowie played for defending champions Wigan from the interchange bench in their 1991 World Club Challenge victory against the visiting Penrith Panthers. He was later selected to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Cowie played as an interchange/substitute in Wigan's 5-4 victory over St. Helens in the 1992 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1992–93 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 18 October 1992.
Cowie played left-, i.e. number 8, in Wigan's 15-8 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1992–93 Regal Trophy Final during the 1992–93 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 23 January 1993, played left-, i.e. number 11, in the 2-33 defeat by Castleford in the 1993–94 Regal Trophy Final during the 1993–94 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994, played right-, i.e. number 10, in the 40-10 victory over Warrington in the 1994–95 Regal Trophy Final during the 1994–95 season at Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday 28 January 1995, and played left-, i.e. number 8, in the 25-16 victory over St. Helens in the 1995–96 Regal Trophy Final during the 1994–95 season at Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday 13 January 1996.
After the 1993–94 Rugby Football League season Cowie travelled with defending champions Wigan to Brisbane, playing as a in their 1994 World Club Challenge victory over Australian premiers, the Brisbane Broncos.
Cowie won caps for Wales while at Wigan in 1995 against England, and France, and in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup against Western Samoa, in 1996 against England, in 1998 against England, and in 1999 against Ireland, and Scotland, and won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1993 against France, and in 1998 against New Zealand.
Cowie played for Wigan Warriors from the interchange bench in their 1998 Super League Grand Final victory over Leeds Rhinos.
In June 2000, Cowie converted a drop goal, the only one-pointer he scored in his career, in a 30–18 victory over the Bradford Bulls. He played for Wigan at prop forward in their 2000 Super League Grand Final loss against St. Helens.
Cowie played for Wigan Warriors from the interchange bench in their 2001 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Bradford Bulls. This turned out to be his last appearance for the club, as he announced his retirement shortly after the match.