Worcester Warriors sign Cornish Pirates' Blair Cowan

Cowan scored a try in his final match for the Pirates against Nottingham

Worcester have signed back-row forward Blair Cowan from Cornish Pirates.

The 25-year-old New Zealander has signed an 18-month deal at Sixways and has scored six tries in 14 Championship appearances for the Pirates.

"This opportunity is one that needs to be taken at this time in my career," said Cowan, who joined Pirates in 2009.

He is the latest player to make the switch to Worcester from the Mennaye after Ben Gulliver joined Warriors at the end of last season.

"Taking the decision to allow players to leave whilst they are contracted to the Cornish Pirates is never easy, and we must always treat any request to do so on its merits," said Pirates chief executive Rod Coward.

"However the reality is that there is a higher level of rugby available and we believe that it would be wrong to deny Blair the opportunity to progress.

"We thank Blair Cowan for the contribution he has made to the Pirates during the past three years and wish him every success with Worcester Warriors."

Cowan, who was out of contract at the end of May, is the first player to leave the Pirates since it was announced that they would not be able to play in the Premiership next season.

The club had hoped to have a new stadium in place for the 2012-13 season that met top flight criteria.

But the plans for a new stadium for Cornwall in Truro have been delayed.