Ronald C. Cowan (born 26 November 1941) is a Scottish former rugby union and professional rugby league player who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played international rugby union for and the British Lions, and at club level for Selkirk RFC, as a wing, In rugby league he played at club level for Leeds and Hull FC, as a or , and for Other Nationalities.
Cowan was born in Selkirk, Scotland. Cowan is the son of Jimmy Cowan, the rugby union and rugby league player for Hull F.C., and the younger brother of the rugby union and rugby league player Stan Cowan.
Cowan played for Selkirk RFC. He was capped five times for in 1961âÂÂ62. He went on the 1962 tour of South Africa, Rhodesia and Kenya, aged 20, and played in ten games, scoring four tries. He won one cap, in the fourth test against South Africa, scoring a try.
Cowan transferred to Leeds during the 1962âÂÂ63 season, and scored 119 tries for the club.
Cowan played on the in Leeds' 2âÂÂ18 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1964âÂÂ65 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1964âÂÂ65 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 31 October 1964, and played at in the 23âÂÂ7 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1970âÂÂ71 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1970âÂÂ71 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 21 November 1970.
Cowan played at in Leeds' 9âÂÂ5 victory over St. Helens in the 1970 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1970âÂÂ71 season at Headingley, Leeds on Tuesday 15 December 1970.
Cowan played at (replaced by substitute Les Dyl) in Leeds' 7âÂÂ24 defeat by Leigh in the 1970âÂÂ71 Challenge Cup Final during the 1970âÂÂ71 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 15 May 1971, in front of a crowd of 85,514.
He transferred to Hull in 1972, before finishing his career at Keighley.
Cowan represented Other Nationalities while at Leeds, he was a substitute in the 2âÂÂ19 defeat by St. Helens at Knowsley Road on 27 January 1965, to mark the switching-on of new floodlights.