Cowan ordered to face New Zealand hearing

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - All Blacks scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan has been ordered to attend a New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) misconduct hearing after being arrested twice in two months for disorder offences.

All Blacks manager Darren Shand said it was unusual for the NZRU to speak to a player before his case had gone before the courts but they were concerned about Cowan's drinking.

"We normally wait until the court process is complete but Jimmy has been involved in two incidents in a short period of time and we feel the need to act now," Shand said in a statement on Monday.

"The pattern of behaviour indicates that Jimmy doesn't make good decisions when he's been drinking."

Cowan, 26, has played 10 tests for New Zealand since making his international debut in 2004.

If found guilty of misconduct, he faces the possibility of being sacked from the All Blacks. (Reporting by Julian Linden in Sydney. Editing by Ossian Shine)