Wairangi Koopu
Encyclopedia
Wairangi Koopu is a professional rugby league
player for the Pt Chev Pirates in New Zealand. Koopu primarily plays in the second row, although he also can play in the centres.
. In 1998 he also represented the Waikato Cougars
, played for the Junior Kiwis
and was named in the National Māori tournament team after representing Waikato Māori.
Koopu is fluent in Maori and often appears on Māori Television
. He is a part of the iwi Te whanau a apanui.
During the early part of 1999, while on contract with the Warriors, Koopu played for the Glenora Bears
and represented Auckland North.
debut for the Auckland Warriors in Round 6, 1999. He went on to play for the club 159 times, earning the nickname "Mr Consistency" while clocking up over 50 consecutive games for the club before being sidelined by injury.
Koopu seriously injured his shoulder in 2006 and never fully regained his consistency with the Warriors. As a result, after ten years with the Warriors, Koopu was released by the club at the end of the 2008 season.
and trained with the Auckland Rugby Union team, but he eventually accepted a one year contract with the Melbourne Storm
for the 2009 season. The Storm team won the Premiership that year.
in 1999 and at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup
but it was not until 2004 that he made his debut for the New Zealand Kiwis. In 2008 Koopu again played for the New Zealand Māori
in two games, including a match against an Indigenous Dreamtime side.
and Awen Guttenbeil
for the Pt Chev Pirates in Auckland Rugby League
s Phelan Shield
. He remained with the club in 2011 when they competed in the Fox Memorial qualifying round.
, organising for him to play in the AMNRL with the Northern Raiders
.
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 for the Pt Chev Pirates in New Zealand. Koopu primarily plays in the second row, although he also can play in the centres.
Early years
Before joining the New Zealand Warriors, Koopu played for the Taniwharau Rugby League club in HuntlyHuntly, New Zealand
Huntly is a town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 1, 93 kilometres south of Auckland and 35 kilometres north of Hamilton. It is situated on the North Island Main Trunk Railway and straddles the Waikato River.Huntly was called Rahui Pokeka when...
. In 1998 he also represented the Waikato Cougars
Waikato Cougars
The Waikato rugby league team is a New Zealand rugby league team that represents the Waikato Rugby League in New Zealand Rugby League competitions. They competed in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1996, the Super League Challenge Cup in 1997 and the Bartercard Premiership in 2008 and 2009...
, played for the Junior Kiwis
Junior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
and was named in the National Māori tournament team after representing Waikato Māori.
Koopu is fluent in Maori and often appears on Māori Television
Maori Television
Māori Television is a New Zealand TV station broadcasting programmes that make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of the Māori language and culture . Funded by the New Zealand Government, the station started broadcasting on 28 March 2004 from a base in Newmarket.Te Reo is the...
. He is a part of the iwi Te whanau a apanui.
During the early part of 1999, while on contract with the Warriors, Koopu played for the Glenora Bears
Glenora Bears
The Glenora Bears are a rugby league football club based in Glen Eden, New Zealand who compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. The club was established in 1931...
and represented Auckland North.
Warriors
Koopu made his first gradeNational Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
debut for the Auckland Warriors in Round 6, 1999. He went on to play for the club 159 times, earning the nickname "Mr Consistency" while clocking up over 50 consecutive games for the club before being sidelined by injury.
Koopu seriously injured his shoulder in 2006 and never fully regained his consistency with the Warriors. As a result, after ten years with the Warriors, Koopu was released by the club at the end of the 2008 season.
Melbourne
After being released by the Warriors, Koopu considered a switch to rugby unionRugby 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...
and trained with the Auckland Rugby Union team, but he eventually accepted a one year contract with the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
for the 2009 season. The Storm team won the Premiership that year.
Representative career
Koopu played for the New Zealand MāoriNew Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
in 1999 and at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
but it was not until 2004 that he made his debut for the New Zealand Kiwis. In 2008 Koopu again played for the New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
in two games, including a match against an Indigenous Dreamtime side.
Later years
In 2010 Koopu played alongside Stacey JonesStacey Jones
Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield...
and Awen Guttenbeil
Awen Guttenbeil
Awen Guttenbeil is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer. Since retiring after a playing career spanning fifteen years, he now works as a broadcaster for Sky Network Television and as a presenter on Maori TV sports show, Hyundai Code...
for the Pt Chev Pirates in 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...
s Phelan Shield
2010 Auckland Rugby League season
The 2010 Auckland Rugby League season was the 2010 season of senior rugby league in Auckland. The Auckland Rugby League ran the various competitions. The season commenced on the 13 of March, with the start of the Phelan Shield, and finished on the 28 August with the three senior grand finals...
. He remained with the club in 2011 when they competed in the Fox Memorial qualifying round.
Identity Theft
In 2010 an internet fraudster posed as Koopu and contacted the AMNRL's David NiuDavid Niu
David Niumataiwalu, better known as David Niu , is an Australian-American rugby league and rugby union administrator, coach, and former player...
, organising for him to play in the AMNRL with the Northern Raiders
Northern Raiders
The New York Raiders are an American semi-professional rugby league football team based in Congers, New York. The team currently plays in the American National Rugby League competition...
.