Cowan sounds out Blues

Former All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan admits he has spoken to the Blues about Super Rugby, ahead of his return to NZ rugby with Tasman.

Former All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan says he has spoken to the Auckland Blues about a possible Super Rugby contract.

The former Southland stalwart has just returned from an injury-affected two-year stint with Gloucester and will play for Tasman in this year's national provincial championship.

Cowan, 32, has only been with Tasman for a few days and scored a try in their 31-25 pre-season win over Otago.

On Tuesday, he told LiveSport he would concentrate on provincial rugby before deciding whether he would try for Super Rugby next year.

However, he admitted he had already spoken to the Blues. He wouldn't elaborate how his chat with the Auckland franchise had gone.

Current Blues and former All Black halfback Piri Weepu is reportedly off to play rugby in Britain as he nears the end of his playing career.

Cowan played 100 games in 13 years with Southland but there wasn't room for him at the southern union, which have already filled their roster ahead of the 2014 NPC.

The rugged No.9 made his All Blacks debut in 2004 and played the last of his 51 Tests at the 2011 World Cup.

Cowan said he thoroughly enjoyed his experience in England, where the rugby, while physically tough, was quite different.

"Here you get taught to find space, whereas over there they are very structured in what they try and do.

"The weather doesn't allow them to play a lot of free-flowing rugby because you are playing over the Christmas period and you are playing in snow and so forth, it does make it difficult."


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