About William Cowie
Born 1926. William Cowie is a British rugby union player.
William Lorn Kerr Cowie, Lord Cowie (born 1 June 1926) is a retired Scottish Senator of the College of Justice and former Scotland international rugby union player.
Rugby union career
Amateur career
Cowie played rugby at Fettes where he played Centre. He attended Clare College, Cambridge after Fettes but his studies were interrupted by WWII.
In Glasgow, Cowie played and captained Kelvinside-West after the 2nd world war.
Kelvinside-West was a short term club merger fix for a post-war player shortage and as numbers increased the constituent clubs of Kelvinside Academicals and West of Scotland once again went their own ways. When that happened Cowie played for West of Scotland.
His legal work took him to Edinburgh and Cowie then played for Edinburgh Wanderers.
Provincial career
Starting off in Glasgow with Kelvinside-West, Cowie first represented Glasgow District and played for them against Edinburgh District in the Inter-City match.
Cowie played for Edinburgh District in the Inter-City and the Scottish Inter-District Championship.
He played for Edinburgh in the 1954β55 Scottish Inter-District Championship match against the South.
He is one of the few players of the era to play for both Glasgow District and Edinburgh District.
International career
He was capped for once in 1953. He played in the Five Nations match against England at Twickenham Stadium on 21 March that year.
In his rugby career he played as a No.8.
Law career
Cowie became a Senator of the College of Justice in 1977.
He joined the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh in 1952, becoming an Advocate Depute in the Crown Office Scotland staying there till 1967. He was made Queen's Counsel in 1967. He reprised his role as Advocate Depute from 1969-77.
He became a Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland, staying in the role from 1977β94.
He then became a Judge of the Court of Appeal, Botswana from 1995β98.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped William Cowie's
Frequently asked questions
Who is William Cowie?
rugby player
When was William Cowie born?
William Cowie was born on 1 June 1926 in Glasgow.
What is William Cowie's occupation?
William Cowie is a rugby union player.
What nationality is William Cowie?
William Cowie is British.
Sources & further reading
Β· DBpedia: William Cowie, Lord Cowie
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Cowie. https://biography.guide/william-cowie-rugby-union-player/
MLA: "William Cowie." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-cowie-rugby-union-player/.
Chicago: "William Cowie." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-cowie-rugby-union-player/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 Β· Spot an error? Report a correction.
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