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Cooper to lead Chiefs from 2018

Representative | 22 December 2016 | Club Rugby

Cooper to lead Chiefs from 2018

Photo above: Taranaki coach Colin Cooper will coach the Chiefs from 2018 in a three-year contract. Photo by Dave Lintott Photography 

Taranaki championship winning coach Colin Cooper will coach the Chiefs Super Rugby side from 2018 adding to his strong resume of coaching roles over the years.  

The Chiefs and New Zealand Rugby announced the three-year appointment yesterday morning after much anticipation and speculation. Cooper will fill the shoes of Dave Rennie after next year’s national provincial championship campaign with Taranaki.

Cooper’s coaching experience speaks for itself with including 12 years with Taranaki from 1999-2002 and then again from 2010 following eight years in charge of the Hurricanes based in Wellington. Within that time Cooper’s Taranaki side won the NPC in 2014 and made the semi-finals on a number of occasions including this year. They also claimed the Ranfurly Shield in 2011 with eight successful defences before losing it to Waikato the following year.  

Without having won a championship with the Hurricanes, Cooper made the semi-finals in Super Rugby many times during his time.    

Adding to his domestic duties, Cooper has also had success with the Maori All Blacks’ side since 2013 and will face the British and Irish Lions next year.  

Cooper said he was very grateful for the opportunities in Taranaki and was able to come back home in 2010 with new learnings from Super Rugby which he said was rewarding.  

“I have enjoyed building great relationships with our clubs and seeing our academy thrive which is exciting for the future of Taranaki rugby.  

“I am looking forward to my next career challenge with the Chiefs but before then I am determined to see the Port Taranaki Bulls compete to the highest level in the 2017 Mitre10 Cup” he said.  

Cooper said the Taranaki board and Chief Executive Officer Mike Collins have been hugely supportive during his time in charge as they were ‘innovative and ambitious about seeing Taranaki perform to its potential on the national stage’.  

Chiefs CEO Andrew Flaxman is also excited about Coopers appointment crediting his calibre to lead the Chiefs.  

“He has a proven track record at international, Super Rugby and provincial levels and we have every confidence he will enhance the legacy Dave Rennie and his team have established here at the Chiefs”.  

Flaxman also said Cooper is also passionate about nurturing young talent which will give the Chiefs a competitive edge.  

He also said the 2018 appointment gives the club plenty of time to focus on building the squad and ensures the transition to the new regime is smooth.     

Collins also mentioned how influential Cooper has been in Taranaki with plenty of achievements to date.  

“Colin’s influence has been far greater than those results. Colin has engaged with the club scene, the Taranaki academy and the referee association and he has had a positive impact in all three areas of the game”.  

The recruitment process will begin after the 2017 provincial season.  

COLIN COOPER – Coaching Summary
2013 - 2017: Head Coach, Maori All Blacks
2010 - 2017: Head Coach, Port Taranaki Bulls (2014 ITM Cup Premiership Winners, 2011 Ranfurly Shield)
2003 - 2010: Head Coach, Hurricanes
2005 - 2009: Co-Coach, New Zealand Junior All Blacks
2002: Forwards Coach, Crusaders
2001: Head Coach, New Zealand Under 21s
1999 - 2002: Head Coach of Taranaki, National Provincial Championship
1997 - 1998: Assistant Coach of Taranaki, National Provincial Championship
1996 - 1997: Director of Coaching at Taranaki Rugby
1993 - 1994: Assistant Coach of Taranaki, National Provincial Championship        

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