Jimmy Cowan played his last ITM Cup game for Southland this week © Getty Images

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News: Kiwi Cowan signs for Gloucester

Players/Officials: Jimmy Cowan

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England | Gloucester Rugby | New Zealand

Gloucester boss Nigel Davies insists high-profile recruit Jimmy Cowan will be given time to settle in before getting his first taste of Aviva Premiership action.

The Rugby World Cup-winning scrum-half signed for the Cherry and Whites earlier this year and is now poised to link up with his new club having completed his ITM Cup commitments with Southland in his native New Zealand.

The 30-year-old is set to land in the UK tomorrow and will begin training next week but Davies is refusing to pencil in a date for his debut with the likes of Dan Robson, Dave Lewis and trialist Brad Field serving the team with distinction so far this term.

"Jimmy's in the country tomorrow, so he'll be with us next week," Davies told The Citizen. "There's been no panic at all, my only concern was if we were to pick up an injury at nine.

"And that's why we involved Brad. Brad's been a fantastic find for us really. So we haven't panicked, we haven't relied on his arrival and him coming into the squad is just going to be a bonus.

"This is a tight group, they work hard for each other, and so coming from the outside Jimmy will be welcomed. But he has to prove his stripes like everyone else, and I'm sure he'll do that.

"He'll fit in pretty quickly, the type of player and type of person he is. But it's not as if we've been desperate for his arrival because look at the form of Dan and Dave. That said, though, it will be great to have him here and it will add impetus to the squad."