Matthew Cooper (rugby union)

Last updated

Matthew Cooper
MNZM
Birth nameMatthew James Andrew Cooper
Date of birth (1966-10-10) 10 October 1966 (age 57)
Place of birth Gisborne, New Zealand
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight90 kg (200 lb)
School St John's College, Hastings
Notable relative(s) Greg Cooper (brother)
Occupation(s)CEO of Sport Waikato
Television rugby commentator
Rugby union career
Position(s) Second five-eighth
Fullback
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1985–88 Hawke's Bay ()
1989–99 Waikato 1604 ()
Super Rugby
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1996 Highlanders ()
1997–99 Chiefs ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1987, 92–94, 96 New Zealand 8 (55)
1998 Croatia [1] 1 (24)

Matthew James Andrew Cooper MNZM (born 10 October 1966) is a former New Zealand international rugby union player. He made his All Black test debut against Ireland on 6 June 1992, setting a then-world record of 23 points on test debut, with the last of his eight caps coming on 3 July 1994 against France.

Contents

Born in Gisborne on 10 October 1966, Cooper was educated at Napier Marist Brothers and St John's College Schools where he was a member of the 1st XV from 1982 to 1984. In 1984 he played for New Zealand secondary schools against Australia then toured with the team to Britain. He made his Hawke's Bay debut in 1985 as an 18-year-old. [2]

Chosen to play for the Otago Highlanders in the inaugural Super 12 series in 1996, Cooper soon proved his value with a couple of match-winning performances and that form saw him called up for the All Black tour to South Africa. On his return, Cooper topped 1000 points for Waikato. He continued to represent Waikato until 1999 and with 1604 points holds the union's scoring record. He also appeared for Waikato Chiefs 1997–99. [2]

International career

Cooper had already played for the All Blacks in a 'B' international on the tour to Japan in 1987 after some outstanding performances for Hawke's Bay, but he saw Waikato as providing the first division base on which he could further establish his game. Soon after linking up with the Hamilton Marist club he was in the Waikato squad where he played both at centre and at fullback and became goalkicker. [ citation needed ]

His solid performances and points scoring efforts for Waikato kept him to the forefront and eventually he was given his chance at international level against Ireland at Athletic Park, Wellington in 1992. His 23 points in his debut test was a record [3] and on the strength of that showing he was chosen for the All Black tour to Australia and South Africa that same year.

He played against the British Lions in New Zealand in 1993 and went to Scotland and England later that year where he became firmly established in the All Black midfield and took over the goalkicking role with great success. However, injury ruled him out of the test against England. He returned to play two tests against France in 1994. After retirement, he became the CEO of Sports Waikato [4] and in 2005 became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. [5]

His elder brother Greg, a fullback, was an All Black in 1986 and 1992, winning seven caps. The brothers are of partial Croatian descent. [6] Before the one country rule for qualifying came into effect for international rugby, Matthew Cooper took advantage of his dual qualification and represented Croatia against Italy in their 1999 Rugby World Cup qualification campaign, during New Zealand-born Anthony Sumic's reign as Croatian coach. [7]

In the 2006 New Year Honours, Cooper was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby and sports administration. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mils Muliaina</span> New Zealand international rugby union player

Junior Malili "Mils" Muliaina is a former professional rugby union player who most recently played for San Francisco Rush in the US PRO Rugby competition. He played primarily as a fullback, though he has also played as a centre and on the wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Harbour Rugby Union</span> Sports club

The North Harbour Rugby Union (NHRU), commonly known as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is the governing body of rugby union that encompasses a wide geographical area north of Auckland that includes North Shore City, Rodney District, the Hibiscus Coast and part of Waitakere City. There are 12 rugby clubs from Mahurangi RFC, based in Warkworth, Rodney District, in the north through to Massey the southernmost area of the union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whanganui Rugby Football Union</span> Rugby team

The Whanganui Rugby Football Union (WRFU) is the governing body for rugby union in the Whanganui region of New Zealand. The Whanganui Rugby Football Union was formed in 1888.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israel Dagg</span> New Zealand rugby player (1988-2023)

Israel Jamahl Akuhata Dagg is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played for the Crusaders in Super Rugby. He has also played for the New Zealand Sevens team, and represents Hawkes Bay in the ITM Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zac Guildford</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Zachary Robert Guildford is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player who played as a wing most notably for National Provincial Championship club Hawke's Bay and the New Zealand national team.

Frano Michael Botica is a New Zealand-Croatian rugby union and rugby league coach and former player in both codes, who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He is the head coach of the Philippines sevens team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Slade</span> NZ international rugby union player

Colin Richard Slade is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player. He played primarily at first five-eighth, as well as all other backline positions on occasions. He was first selected for the All Blacks in 2009. He was a key member of the 2011 Rugby World Cup winning team. He was also included in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but played in only one match against Namibia. He thus became one of only 20 players who have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Davis (rugby union)</span> New Zealand rugby union player (1930–2019)

Keith Davis was a New Zealand rugby union player who played for both New Zealand and New Zealand Māori. He played for Auckland, and won the Ranfurly Shield in his first ever provincial game. After gaining All Blacks selection in 1952, Davis toured with the team to Europe and North America in 1953–54. He played extensively for New Zealand Māori between 1952 and his retirement in 1959; his time with the team included matches against both South Africa and the British Lions. Davis was awarded the Tom French Cup for Māori player of the year in 1952, 1953 and 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Weber</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Brad McCormick Weber is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a halfback for Stade Français in the French Top 14. He previously played for Hawke's Bay in the National Provincial Championship and the Chiefs in Super Rugby. He has represented New Zealand internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anton Lienert-Brown</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Anton Russell Lienert-Brown is a New Zealander professional rugby union player who currently plays as a second five-eighth or centre for the Chiefs in Super Rugby, and Waikato in the Mitre 10 Cup. He made his debut for New Zealand in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damian McKenzie</span> Rugby player

Damian Sinclair McKenzie is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays fullback or First five-eighth for Waikato in the Bunnings NPC competition and Chiefs in super rugby. McKenzie has played 40 tests for New Zealand since his international debut in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Downing</span> New Zealand rugby union footballer

Albert "Doolan" Joseph Downing was a New Zealand international rugby union player, capped 26 times at lock between 1913 and 1914. He was born in Napier, and began his playing career for Napier Marist in 1909, from which he was selected for Hawke's Bay and for the North Island. He moved at the end of 1912 to Auckland and there joined Auckland Marist, where he was the club's first All Black, playing his debut match against a touring Australian team in 1913. He was selected for the highly successful tour of North America in 1913, playing in 14 of the 16 matches and scoring 6 tries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordie Barrett</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Jordan Matthew Barrett is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a utility back internationally for New Zealand's All Blacks, and for the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby competition. Having previously been an apprentice for the All Black squad in 2016, Barrett was first selected for New Zealand in 2017, making his debut against Samoa in a warm-up test prior to the British & Irish Lions series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asafo Aumua</span> Rugby player

Asafo Junior Aumua is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for New Zealand franchise Hurricanes and the New Zealand national team. In his youth, he was selected to play in the 2016 and 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championships for New Zealand.

Tiaan Falcon is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a fly-half or fullback for Toyota Verblitz in the Japan Rugby League One competition. He formerly played for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition.

Bailyn Sullivan is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a midfield back or wing for Waikato in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship and for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Kirwan (rugby league)</span> NZ international rugby league & union footballer

John Patrick Kirwan, more commonly known as "Jack Kirwan", was a rugby union and rugby league player. He represented the Hawke's Bay province and Auckland in rugby union before switching to rugby league in 1924. He was selected for the New Zealand team in 1925 becoming Kiwi number 174 in the process. His grandson was also named John Kirwan and he went on to become a famous All Black in the 1980s and 90s before also switching to rugby league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Gregory (rugby)</span> New Zealand international rugby league player (1901-1988)

Charles Gregory was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in 40 matches including 3 tests from 1925 to 1930. When he debuted for New Zealand in 1925 he became Kiwi number 171. He predominantly played fullback during his career though he played standoff and centre at various points. He also represented Auckland in both rugby league and rugby union and played for the Ponsonby rugby club and the Marist rugby league club.

Sosefo Losino 'Apikotoa is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a prop for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and for Anthem Rugby Carolina in Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but represents Tonga internationally, for which he is eligible due to his Tongan descent.

Tyrone Thompson is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a hooker for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and the Chiefs in Super Rugby.

References

  1. ↑ McKendry, Patrick (26 July 1998). "Matt's mad about Mooloo". Sunday News. p. 45.
  2. 1 2 New Zealand All Blacks Player Profiles, Match Details and Statistics, allblacks.com; accessed 8 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Waikato's Dream Team 92-07: The fullbacks – Provincial features on Rugby Heaven Archived 4 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine , rugbyheaven.co.nz; accessed 8 April 2014.
  4. ↑ Sport Waikato: The Official Sport Waikato Website, sportwaikato.org.nz; accessed 8 April 2014.
  5. ↑ Official Website of the British & Irish Lions Rugby Tour – player profile, lionsrugby.com; accessed 8 April 2014.
  6. ↑ (in Croatian) "Ragbi je idealan za vojnike" Archived 12 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine , hrvatski-vojnik.hr; accessed 8 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "Patriot games". NZ Rugby World. 23 May 2013. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "New Year honours list 2006". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.