SURF dude Blair Cowan is riding the crest of a wave after linking up with two of his beach buddies at Worcester Warriors.

New Zealand-born number eight Cowan this week joined Warriors from Cornish Pirates, where he had previously enjoyed the coastal lifestyle with current Sixways stars Sam Betty and Ben Gulliver.

“I used to go surfing with Sam, so it will be great to link up again and join him and Ben at Sixways,” Cowan revealed. “There will be a small part of Cornwall in Worcester now with us three, but I’m not sure there is much surfing around the city!”

He added: “The fans here are very passionate about the club and us achieving some success.

“I really enjoyed my time at Cornish Pirates, I will miss that part of the world and will be supporting them from afar. I’m sure they can gain success and I’m pleased they allowed me to make this move mid-season and have a go at the top-flight.”

Barnstorming back-rower Cowan, whose first cousin is Pekahou ‘Pek’ Cowan — a propforward who plays for Western Force and has represented Australia on four occasions, has already made an impression at Sixways with an eye-catching display when Pirates won at Warriors’ home during the Championship campaign.

He added: “I played against Worcester when we won at Sixways last season and also in pre-season this year. To play in the Aviva Premiership has always been a massive goal of mine.

“It’s all happened very quickly, but I jumped at the chance to come and play at a club with such big ambition and ideas for the future.”

Highly-rated 25-year-old Cowan was brought over to the UK by Pirates boss Chris Stirling and now makes the move to Sixways eager to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Betty who have made the move from the Championship and shone.

“I look at how Sam has made a mark in the top-flight and you just want to follow that route,” he said. “I always knew he had the tools to make it, he has a huge energy for the game. I want to come and put my hand up like that and make an impact I can’t wait to move up and get started.”

The early stages of Cowan’s career were interrupted by a knee injury, but he believes that is all behind him now after having a second operation performed by the former England full-back Jonathan Webb, now a highly-respected consultant orthopaedic surgeon.

Cowan explained: “I popped my knee cap when I was younger and back then I didn’t get the best of help. It was then really wear and tear over the years and the first op was a clean out, but the procedure wasn’t the right one and slowed my recovery.

“The low point was a couple of months after my op when things weren’t improving. I’m such an active person, but I couldn’t do anything and it got me down.

“I wanted to come back better, stronger and faster and I am in the best shape I’ve ever been in now. I have gathered such a huge hunger for the game.”