Colin Cooper (rugby)
Encyclopedia
Colin Cooper is the head coach of Taranaki's provincial rugby union side in New Zealand. He has previously been the head coach of rugby union
Super 14
side, the Hurricanes
. In his playing days, Cooper was also loose forward for the Taranaki province
in his native New Zealand.
was appointed to succeed Graham Henry
at the Auckland Blues In 2001 he guided the New Zealand Colts side for a season and in 2002 was the assistant coach at the Crusaders.
Following the dismissal of Graham Mourie
as Hurricanes
coach Cooper was appointed to take over the franchise and came to prominence by guiding them to the semi-finals in two of his three seasons in charge.
In 2005 he also coached one of the All Blacks trial teams and the Junior All Blacks. His greatest achievement to date has been taking his side to the 2006 Final
, where they were defeated by 19–12. He signed an extension to his contract in 2007, which will take him through until 2009.
He stepped down as Hurricanes coach following the 2010 Super 14 season.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
side, the Hurricanes
Hurricanes (Super rugby franchise)
The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition...
. In his playing days, Cooper was also loose forward for the Taranaki province
Taranaki Rugby Union
Taranaki Rugby Football Union is the governing body of Rugby in the New Zealand province of Taranaki. The main stadium is Yarrow Stadium which is in the main centre of New Plymouth. Taranaki plays in the annual ITM Cup in which it also competes for the Ranfurly shield...
in his native New Zealand.
Management
Following Cooper's retirement from rugby in the early 90s, he took up full time management. In 1999 he became Taranaki coach after Jed RowlandsJed Rowlands
Jed Rowlands is a New Zealand rugby union coach. He coaches the Black Ferns, the New Zealand women's national rugby team, and was in 1999 the coach of the Auckland Blues Super Rugby professional side.-External links:...
was appointed to succeed Graham Henry
Graham Henry
Graham Henry is a New Zealand Rugby Union coach, and former head coach of the country's national team, the All Blacks. He played rugby union for Canterbury and cricket for Otago in the Plunket Shield. Henry was heavily criticized following the All Blacks quarterfinal exit at the 2007 Rugby World...
at the Auckland Blues In 2001 he guided the New Zealand Colts side for a season and in 2002 was the assistant coach at the Crusaders.
Following the dismissal of Graham Mourie
Graham Mourie
Graham Neil Kenneth Mourie is a former New Zealand All Black flanker and coach of the Hurricanes. He was one of the great All Black Captains in the late 70s and early 80s...
as Hurricanes
Hurricanes (Super rugby franchise)
The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition...
coach Cooper was appointed to take over the franchise and came to prominence by guiding them to the semi-finals in two of his three seasons in charge.
In 2005 he also coached one of the All Blacks trial teams and the Junior All Blacks. His greatest achievement to date has been taking his side to the 2006 Final
2006 Super 14 Final
The Final of the 2006 Super 14 season, a rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere, took place on May 27, 2006 at Jade Stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand. The match was won by the Crusaders 19 points to 12 over the visiting Wellington-based side, the Hurricanes...
, where they were defeated by 19–12. He signed an extension to his contract in 2007, which will take him through until 2009.
He stepped down as Hurricanes coach following the 2010 Super 14 season.