Vernon Cooper
Encyclopedia
Vernon Cooper is a former Welsh
rugby union
footballer, who played for the Scarlets in the Celtic League
. Cooper has also played for Wales
. His usual position was at lock.
Cooper represented Wales at a number of national levels, including Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21, as well as playing for the Wales 'A' team. He was promoted to the senior national team in 2002. He made his senior debut for Wales on 16 November 2002, playing against Canada
at the Millennium Stadium
; Wales won 32–21.
The following season, he was again included in Wales' squad for the Tests in August. He came on as a replacement against Ireland
at Lansdowne Road
, which Ireland won 35–12. He played in the following match against Scotland
in Cardiff
, which Wales won 23–9.
During the 2008–09 season, he started coaching the Llanelli RFC forwards on a part-time basis, and was also used as an emergency back-row player.
In June 2011, Cooper announced his retirement from rugby due to a knee injury.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
rugby union
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...
footballer, who played for the Scarlets in the Celtic League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
. Cooper has also played for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
. His usual position was at lock.
Cooper represented Wales at a number of national levels, including Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21, as well as playing for the Wales 'A' team. He was promoted to the senior national team in 2002. He made his senior debut for Wales on 16 November 2002, playing against Canada
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
; Wales won 32–21.
The following season, he was again included in Wales' squad for the Tests in August. He came on as a replacement against Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
, which Ireland won 35–12. He played in the following match against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, which Wales won 23–9.
During the 2008–09 season, he started coaching the Llanelli RFC forwards on a part-time basis, and was also used as an emergency back-row player.
In June 2011, Cooper announced his retirement from rugby due to a knee injury.