Cowan: Quit booze or be sacked

2008-07-02 10:50

Wellington - All Blacks scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan has been ordered to stop drinking alcohol or face the sack after attending a New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) misconduct hearing on Tuesday.

Cowan was summoned to appear after being arrested twice in the last two months for disorder offences following drinking binges.

He was fined NZ$3,000 by the NZRU and ordered to undergo counselling but was allowed to stay in the squad on the condition that he gives up alcohol.

"Jimmy must change his behaviour if he wants to be a professional rugby player in New Zealand," All Blacks manager Darren Shand said in a statement.

"We have made it a condition of his employment that he stop drinking altogether. This is his last chance.

"We take the matter very seriously and considered other penalties. However, in light of Jimmy's willingness to acknowledge his problem and seek help for it we decided that what was most important that we address the problem openly and deal with it rather than pushing it to one side."

Cowan, 26, has played 10 tests for the All Blacks since making his international debut in 2004.

Shand said it was very unusual for the NZRU to speak to a player before his case had gone to the courts.

"The repeated incidents in a short period of time just reinforce our decision to take urgent action," Shand said.

- Reuters