Cooper back to his roots

Will Johnston 

 

Photo: Stuff

 

One of Taranaki’s favourite son’s will return to his rugby club where it all began. 

 

Former professional coach Colin Cooper will coach Clifton’s premier team in next year’s CMK club competition. He replaces Toka Walden.

 

After a long coaching career, spanning 30 years including stints with Taranaki, three Super Rugby franchises and the Junior and Maori All Blacks, the offer to help locally came at a perfect time.

 

“I didn’t spend a lot of time with my own kids, because I was too busy on the high-performance coaching treadmill that I was on, “he said.

 

“It took me all around the world, but now I have grandkids.”

 

With offers to help other clubs and even from overseas, a return to where it all began was a no-brainer.

 

“It’s time for me to give back,” he said about the club he started coaching in the late 1980s.

 

Since leaving the Chiefs at the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season, the Taranaki centurion has been working with the Murray Mexted-run International Rugby Academy of New Zealand.  

 

Cooper assisted in the development of coaches at all levels with a vision to help those locally.

 

“With the knowledge I have, I just want to help coaches and help Clifton set up for the future.” 

 

With the competition expected to start at the end of March or early April, Cooper’s work is underway.   

 

He’s been canvasing players and the club about improvements to structures.

 

He hopes he can coach detail around the contact and the catch pass area to the crop of young players in the club.

 

“Make them think about, individually, what they need to work on.”

 

Cooper has a big picture philosophy and encourages all club coaches to work together with Taranaki coach Neil Barnes and referees.

 

“It comes back to communication by the head coach. We all need to keep seeking feedback to get better.”

 

Clifton chairperson Amanda Dombroski said the club is excited to have Cooper return.

 

“The club is looking forward to having Colin upskill our coaches across all grades and grow players into the best they can both on and off the field.”

 

“I’m sure Colin will bring an air of professionalism, respect and mana to the club,” she said.

 

And with Cooper’s former team, the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls, two-from-two in the national competition, he said the side is ‘tracking well.’ 

 

“It was special to view the game at Pukekura Park and they had a great win yesterday [Sunday].”

 

He said they will be a threat if they can remain together.