Pek Cowan
Prop
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Profile
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Height:
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185cm
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Weight:
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116kg
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Date Of Birth:
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02/06/1986
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Rugby Career
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Senior Club:
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Western Force
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Stats
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Test Rugby Caps:
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5 (Wallabies Cap # 834)
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Test Rugby Debut:
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2009 v Italy, Melbourne
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The replacement for the injured Sekope Kepu on the last Spring Tour, PEKAHOU COWAN (pronounced PEK-AR-HOO) had been a member of the Qantas Wallabies squad for the Castrol Edge Tri Nations earlier in the year, gaining his fifth Test cap off the bench during Australia’s 39-20 win in Sydney which opened the tournament.
Now a seasoned performer for the Western Force, who he joined for the club’s foundation season in 2006, the 25-year-old has been one of the big improvers among the Australian front row community in recent years. The Wellington-born loosehead prop, whose heritage traces back to the Maori tribe that introduced the Haka used by the All Blacks, was restricted to just one appearance through his first two seasons in Perth due to a broken leg suffered in 2007.
The former Australian Schools and age-grade rep at Under-19 and Under-21 level then established himself as a regular in the Force run on XV in 2008, where he played nine matches, and performed boldly, earning a call up for the Australia A side that contested that year’s Pacific Six Nations. Cowan featured in Australia A’s wins over Japan and Samoa during that competition, with the confidence gained from that experience serving him well in 2009, as he featured in all but one of the Force’s 13-match Super 14 programme, missing only the win over the Cheetahs.
Cowan then made his Test debut against Italy at Melbourne, winning the team’s internal Player of the Night award, which set him up for two further appearances off the bench during the closing stages of the 2009 Tri Nations, and one at the start of the 2010 Test season.
Although Cowan has largely specialized as a loosehead to this point of his career, the Warringah prop did play on the other side of the front row for Australian Schools. In 2009 he also dabbled at playing hooker, although has since shelved this ‘experiment’ in favour of his more customary loosehead role.
Prior to focusing his sporting pursuits on rugby, Cowan was a golfer of such note that the Long Reef Golf Club, located on Sydney’s northern beaches, put him on a scholarship. This saw him representing the club at junior championship events. At one point, his handicap was a lowly four.
FAST FACT
As a 12-year-old growing up in Wellington, Pek Cowan was looked after by the sister of All Black legend Tana Umaga, who acted as his baby-sitter. Cowan’s mother Brenda still resides in Wellington and watched on proudly when he came off the bench against the All Blacks in the city during the final match of the 2009 Tri Nations.