Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 22

Thread: Kiwi golfer turns Wallaby

  1. #1
    Immortal Contributor
    Moderator
    travelling_gerry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia, Australia
    Posts
    18,483
    vCash
    5062000

    Kiwi golfer turns Wallaby

    Ten years ago Pekahou Cowan was striding the fairways at Wellington's Shandon club, hitting at driving ranges alongside Michael Campbell and eyeing a career as a golf pro.

    But it was another Kiwi sporting icon who gave Cowan his biggest break this week, when Robbie Deans called to offer the 116kg prop a spot in his Wallabies squad.

    Cowan, Pek to his mates, today joined his Western Force teammate Matt Hodgson as the two newest Wallabies when Deans unveiled his first 30-man squad of 2009.

    Born and raised in the Hutt Valley, Cowan recalls being a year behind Hurricanes lock Jeremy Thrush at school, but rated golf as his first sporting love.

    He first picked up a club at age seven, followed the spike marks of top professional Mark Brown at Shandon and was down to a four handicap by his 15th birthday.

    "I was lucky enough to see (Campbell) play a few times and he was down at the driving range I used to go to. He was one of the guys I looked up to," Cowan said.
    "It's a really hard sport to crack into, and I did enjoy playing rugby and league a bit more. That was where my heart was.




    "As a kid in New Zealand you can do everything, and golf was a little bit left field. I just found I was naturally good at it."

    Cowan, now 22, moved to Sydney at 13 when his father changed jobs, and after taking a golf scholarship at Long Reef on the northern beaches, the oval ball beckoned.

    He was a natural, making the Australian schoolboys team in 2003, the under-19s in 2004 and the under-21s in 2005. Making the Wallabies was his dream ever since.

    But it still didn't ease the shock when Deans called last Monday and summoned Cowan from Perth to Sydney, having played all but one of the Force's Super 14 matches in 2009.

    Cowan missed the initial call because he was driving, and didn't recognise Deans' number when he checked.

    "The music was on really loud. I just put a new system into my car so I was trying it out.

    "I think the song was Jason Mraz, I'm Yours. It will definitely go down as one of my favourites, my good luck song.

    "I couldn't believe it. I was kind of shocked. I didn't check the message until I got inside and my partner

    Megan was looking at me with this weird look. She said I looked white."

    After three attempts, Deans finally answered.

    "The first thing I said was sorry. I won't miss another call," Cowan said.

    Cowan shifted to the Western Force in their inaugural year in 2006 but it was a big struggle.

    He suffered a broken leg and went back to club rugby with Nedlands which he rated "about a Sydney third grade level".

    "There were some trying times once I got injured and I was stuck there with my partner at the time, with no family.

    "It was a little bit disheartening but I stuck to it, and got lucky with Gareth (Hardy) getting injured."

    Hardy's misfortune gave Cowan his big chance at loosehead, and he snatched it.

    The Force scrum was solid in 2009 and Mitchell, the former All Blacks coach, brought out the best in his compatriot.

    "He's been massive, a fantastic coach. He's not a coach who will just pick who everyone expects him to pick. He's happy to give young guys a go," Cowan said.
    "He's a bit like Robbie Deans in a way, he'll go on form as opposed to who you are. That's given me the opportunity and brought me here today."

    Cowan felt he always had the ability but Mitchell gave him the confidence. Now Deans has given Cowan a big chance to show his wares against the Barbarians, Italy and France in the absence of injured props
    Sekope Kepu and Matt Dunning.

    Deans said Cowan was chosen with an eye for the future, but was more than ready. His general play and breakdown work had impressed.

    "He did catch our eyes, particularly as the Super 14 went on and as the ante went up. He's really grown as a player and grown in belief. He's starting to impose himself on the game a lot more," Deans said.

    "He has a history in playing both sides which is valuable. He just caught our eye as a bloke who wasn't daunted and was willing."

    And the golfers in the Wallabies had better watch out in the coming weeks, Cowan warns, as they assemble in Sydney for the June Tests.

    "I love to still play, I play the Force boys for a bit of cash. As soon as cash comes into play I make sure I bring my own clubs and putter, put my golf shoes on.

    "The handicap's probably about 40 now. I can still hit a ball, it just doesn't go as straight."

    http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-news/kiwi-go...allaby-2751637

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  2. #2
    Champion lara93's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    karrinyup
    Posts
    1,977
    vCash
    5000000
    thats such a nice article!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    BOKKE
    “Let me put it this way, A Springbok team contains Afrikaners, Englishmen, coloureds and blacks. It has parochial foes in Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Cheetahs and Lions. It is a recipe for war! Yet in all the years of John Smit’s captaincy, there has never been one unhappy customer, not one voice of rebellion against his leadership. He is the glue that holds the Springboks together. The man is a legend!”- Jake White

  3. #3
    Veteran Contributor normie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Beenup Heights
    Posts
    3,175
    vCash
    5000000
    So 'DTE'

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  4. #4
    Legend Contributor brokendown gunfighter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    wembley
    Posts
    8,036
    vCash
    5366000
    funny,I used to be a junior member of Shandon


    many,many years ago now

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  5. #5
    Veteran Contributor normie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Beenup Heights
    Posts
    3,175
    vCash
    5000000
    Quote Originally Posted by brokendown gunfighter View Post
    funny,I used to be a junior member of Shandon


    many,many years ago now
    Country member now?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  6. #6
    Champion Contributor sandgroperrugby's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Wattle Grove
    Posts
    2,083
    vCash
    5310000
    Quote Originally Posted by travelling_gerry View Post
    The Force scrum was solid in 2009 and Mitchell, the former All Blacks coach, brought out the best in his compatriot.

    "He's been massive, a fantastic coach. He's not a coach who will just pick who everyone expects him to pick. He's happy to give young guys a go," Cowan said.
    "He's a bit like Robbie Deans in a way, he'll go on form as opposed to who you are. That's given me the opportunity and brought me here today."
    Well if that isn’t a ringing endorsement of a coach I don’t know what is!!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Generally speaking you aren’t learning much if your lips are moving!!!

  7. #7
    Veteran mudskipper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    4,952
    vCash
    5000000
    So a part of Pek Cowan's selection thinking is to close the All Blacks future options on him... like JOC and Cooper last year...

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  8. #8
    (formerly known as Coach) Your Humble Servant Darren's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia, Australia
    Posts
    14,227
    vCash
    262778
    That's correct Mudskipper, part of Pek Cowans selection as a Wallaby was to secure him as a Wallaby - go figure

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  9. #9
    Player
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    sydney
    Posts
    262
    vCash
    5000000
    Playing Aus A last year had already made him ineligibile for ABs selection for 4 yrs,I really dont think dingos bases his selections on that criteria

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  10. #10
    Legend Contributor fulvio sammut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    booragoon
    Posts
    5,592
    vCash
    5066000
    Quote Originally Posted by lara93 View Post
    thats such a nice article!
    Especially the bit about Nedlands ...

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  11. #11
    Champion goony's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Scarborough
    Posts
    1,432
    vCash
    5000000
    So Perth 1st Grade comp is only Sydney 3rd grade?!? I find that hard to believe...

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  12. #12
    Champion prop53's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Yanchep
    Posts
    2,366
    vCash
    5000000
    see props can do anything

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  13. #13
    Veteran mudskipper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    4,952
    vCash
    5000000
    Quote Originally Posted by mudskipper View Post
    So a part of Pek Cowan's selection thinking is to close the All Blacks future options on him... like JOC and Cooper last year...
    I don't think that is anyway a negative comment about Pek Cowan... He's been chosen because he has long-term promise... As Deans said about both Cowan and Hodgson "We've chosen them with one eye on the future"…

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  14. #14
    Veteran Sheikh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    4,894
    vCash
    28860136
    Quote Originally Posted by mudskipper View Post
    So a part of Pek Cowan's selection thinking is to close the All Blacks future options on him... like JOC and Cooper last year...
    No, Pek's selection is based on his play in the S14. He's held down the starting prop's role in one of the best Australian packs. I'd have picked him ahead of Dunning anyway. Pek's been improving hugely over the last couple of seasons and if he's only 22 (I thought he was 24) he's probably got a decade of top-flight rugby ahead of him.

    Give him a couple of years and he may be shoving the England pack around in New Zealand!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  15. #15
    Veteran mudskipper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    4,952
    vCash
    5000000
    Quote Originally Posted by MSB View Post
    No, Pek's selection is based on his play in the S14. He's held down the starting prop's role in one of the best Australian packs. I'd have picked him ahead of Dunning anyway. Pek's been improving hugely over the last couple of seasons and if he's only 22 (I thought he was 24) he's probably got a decade of top-flight rugby ahead of him.

    Give him a couple of years and he may be shoving the England pack around in New Zealand!
    Yes well thats why he in the Wallabies isn't it? Because they think he has promise... smote away girls...

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Jonny Wilkinson turns to Buddha and turns his back on England
    By jargan83 in forum International Rugby
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 21-11-08, 16:19
  2. The Kiwi With The Dodgy Prostate
    By Badger in forum Jokes
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 22-09-08, 19:54
  3. Wallaby Hall of Fame inductees
    By Burgs in forum Wallabies
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 25-07-07, 06:52
  4. The Kiwi
    By Darren in forum Public Bar
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 21-11-05, 09:55

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •