Shane Cooper (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Shane David Cooper is a New Zealand
former rugby league
player who represented his country
in the 1988 World Cup final and had a long career in England with St. Helens and Widnes
.
, Cooper won the Rothville Trophy, awarded to the Auckland Rugby League
player of the year, in 1985.
In 1987 Cooper joined the St. Helens in England, transferring from Auckland's Mangere East club
. He quickly became the captain of the side.
On 17 February 1988 Cooper scored six tries for St Helens in a match against Hull.
At the end of the 1994-95 Rugby Football League season
Cooper moved to the Widnes Vikings
, playing three more seasons for them before retiring.
. In this match Cooper started on the bench, a move later described as a mistake.
Cooper was also an Auckland
representative and toured England with the Auckland side in 1987.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player who represented his country
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in the 1988 World Cup final and had a long career in England with St. Helens and Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
.
Playing career
Playing for the Mt Albert LionsMt Albert Lions
The Mount Albert Lions are a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. The Lions home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark. In 2008 and 2009 the Lions won the Fox Memorial....
, Cooper won the Rothville Trophy, awarded to the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
player of the year, in 1985.
In 1987 Cooper joined the St. Helens in England, transferring from Auckland's Mangere East club
Mangere East Hawks
The Mangere East Hawks are a rugby league based in Mangere, New Zealand. The Hawks compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition.-History:The club was founded in 1964, before this teams from the area had been attached to the Otahuhu club...
. He quickly became the captain of the side.
On 17 February 1988 Cooper scored six tries for St Helens in a match against Hull.
At the end of the 1994-95 Rugby Football League season
1994-95 Rugby Football League season
The 1994–95 Rugby Football League season was the 100th ever season of professional rugby league football in Britain. Sixteen teams competed from August, 1994 until May, 1995 for a number of titles, primarily the Stones Bitter Championship.-Season summary:...
Cooper moved to the Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
, playing three more seasons for them before retiring.
Representative career
Cooper made his debut for the New Zealand Kiwis in 1985 and went on to play in twelve test matches, including the 1988 World Cup final loss to Australia at Eden ParkEden Park
Eden Park is the biggest stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer . The ground also occasionally hostts rugby league matches. To accommodate all three sports, the cricket pitch is removable...
. In this match Cooper started on the bench, a move later described as a mistake.
Cooper was also an Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
representative and toured England with the Auckland side in 1987.