Adrian Vowles

Adrian Vowles (born 30 May 1971) is a former professional Scotland international rugby league footballer who played as a loose forward or centre in the 1990s and 2000s. He played in Australia for several years, gaining State of Origin selection in 1994, but spent the majority of his career in the Super League.

Born in Cunnamulla, Queensland, Vowles played his junior rugby league for the Cunnamulla Rams and for Charleville All Whites and Railways when he and his family moved there in 1982.

In Charleville, Vowles won two premierships with the All Whites club, before changing clubs and winning a premiership with Charleville Railways in 1988. In 1989 he moved to the Gold Coast, playing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls. In 1990 while playing for a Gold Coast under-21 representative side, he earned a reserve grade trial with the Gold Coast Seagulls, later signing with the club.

In Round 1 of the 1993 NSWRL season, Vowles made his first grade debut in the Seagulls' 10–14 loss to the Western Suburbs Magpies. After starting the first four games of the season off the bench, Vowles became one of the club's starting centres, playing 21 games. At the end of the season, he was named the club's Player of the Year.

In 1994, Vowles continued his good form and was selected for Queensland in Game II of that year's series. He came off the bench in Queensland's 0–14 loss to New South Wales at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In 1995, Vowles joined the newly established North Queensland Cowboys, starting at centre in the club's inaugural game against the Sydney Bulldogs. In the same game, he became the first Cowboy to be sent off after a high shot on Bulldogs' centre Matthew Ryan just five minutes into the match. Vowles played 20 games for the Cowboys in 1995, captaining the side three times. In 1996, he became the club's full-time captain, playing 21 games at centre and lock.

At the end of the 1996 season, Vowles was let go by new coach Tim Sheens. In 2019, Vowles spoke about being released saying, "I didn't miss one game, played half the year with a torn groin and a hernia and it was late when I got told that I wasn't wanted. It was mid-November. We'd already come back and they named a 25-man Super League squad and I wasn't named. Tim Sheens sat in his chair and his exact words were, "You're not big enough, you're not fast enough, you're not strong enough and you've got limited ability". I don't mind that he didn't want me, but don't belittle me. There was a way to do it. I haven't seen him since that day but things happen for a reason".

After leaving the Cowboys, Vowles was offered to Super League clubs Adelaide, Canterbury and the Warriors but all three moves fell through.