All Black Jimmy Cowan has to front up to a disciplinary hearing. Photo / Dean Purcell
All Black Jimmy Cowan will face a misconduct hearing tomorrow that may determine his future in the black jersey.
The 26-year-old Southland halfback faces the hearing before the New Zealand Rugby Union after being charged twice for disorder offences by police within two months.
As a result of
the hearing, Cowan may face a penalty ranging from a warning to termination of his contract with the NZRU.
All Black manager Darren Shand, who will sit on the hearing panel tomorrow, said Cowan's recent conduct showed a "clear pattern of behaviour indicating he doesn't make good decisions when he's been drinking".
Shand said the incidents involving Cowan, including the latest at the weekend, were very frustrating when the management and senior players were "acutely aware" of the need to win back the fans this season.
Cowan had explained the incidents to the NZRU, and was feeling "pretty empty", Shand said.
He remains with the team in Wellington ahead of the test against South Africa this weekend.
Tomorrow's hearing is scheduled for 1.30pm.
Cowan was reportedly arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour over the weekend.
The incident reportedly happened at 3.40am outside an Invercargill pub.
Cowan has previously made the headlines for bad behaviour.
In May this year he ended up in Dunedin police cells at 6.30am for allegedly behaving in a disorderly manner.
He was granted a remand and did not appear in court.
In 2005 the Rugby Union suspended Cowan for a week following an incident in a Brisbane bar.
At the time he was on a Junior All Blacks tour and he was sent home early.
Two years earlier Cowan was reportedly lucky to be alive after a fight broke out in a bar in Johannesburg, South Africa.
He was part of the New Zealand Colts rugby team who were attacked by gunmen at the bar a few days after being knocked out of the under-21 World Cup.
- Additional reporting by nzherald staff
