Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan will play for the side next year.
In a statement released by his agent, Tom Downey, late yesterday, Cowan confirmed he would be playing for both the Highlanders and the Southland side in 2010.
Cowan's future had been up in the air, with speculation he was going to turn his back on the southern franchise and sign with the Blues.
But the statement said Cowan was committed to the Highlanders and Southland until the end of next year.
Cowan had freshened up after his All Black commitments and was now looking forward to helping out Southland in its next two games in the Air New Zealand Cup, the statement said.
Downey said he had no other comment to make.
Cowan's team-mate, prop Jamie Mackintosh, is said to be considering a move to the Hurricanes but Downey, who also represents the prop, said he could not comment on Mackintosh.
Players have until October 16 to make a decision on where they are playing their Super 14 rugby next year.
