Gareth Cooper
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Gareth Cooper
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Gareth James Cooper
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|5|7}}
| birth_place = Bridgend, Wales
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{convert|5|ft|7|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|13|st|3|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| ru_position = Scrum-half
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = Pencoed
| ru_amupdate = 11 July 2014
| years1 = 1998–2002
| years2 = 2007–2009
| clubs1 = Bath
| clubs2 = Gloucester
| apps1 = 93
| apps2 = 15
| points1 = 95
| points2 = 0
| ru_clubupdate = 11 July 2014
| ru_currentclub = retired
| provinceyears1 = 2003–2004
| provinceyears2 = 2004–2007
| provinceyears3 = 2009–10
| province1 = Celtic Warriors
| province2 = Newport GD
| province3 = Cardiff Blues
| provinceapps1 = 9
| provinceapps2 = 45
| provinceapps3 = 0
| provincepoints1 = 15
| provincepoints2 = 35
| provincepoints3 = 0
| ru_provinceupdate = 11 July 2014
| repyears1 = 1999
| repyears2 = 2000
| repyears3 = 2001–10
| repyears4 = 2005
| repteam1 = Wales U21
| repteam2 = Wales A
| repteam3 = Wales
| repteam4 = Lions
| repcaps1 = 2
| repcaps2 = 2
| repcaps3 = 46
| repcaps4 = 1
| reppoints1 = 0
| reppoints2 = 0
| reppoints3 = 45
| reppoints4 = 0
| ru_ntupdate = 11 July 2014
| repsevensyears1 =
| repsevensteam1 =
| ru_sevensupdate =
| coachteams1 =
| coachyears1 =
| ru_coachupdate =
| occupation =
| spouse =
| children =
| relatives =
| school = Pencoed Comprehensive School
| university = UWIC
}}
Gareth Cooper (born 7 May 1979 in Bridgend) is a former Wales international rugby union player who played in the scrum-half position.
Career
Cooper started playing rugby with Pencoed before moving to Bath in the West Country.
Cooper made his international debut in 2001 against Italy, when many were claiming him to be the successor to Rob Howley. He toured to Japan in later that year. After Howley's retirement in 2002 he was given his first run in the side in 2003, becoming first choice for the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
He returned to play in Wales after that tournament with the Celtic Warriors, but he found himself scrapping with the Scarlets Dwayne Peel for the scrum-half jersey during the 2004 Six Nations.
He joined the Newport Gwent Dragons in 2004 when the Celtic Warriors were disbanded, but his form went downhill and Peel secured the scrum-half shirt with some stunning performances during Wales' Grand Slam in the 2005 Six Nations. Despite playing mostly on the bench for Wales he was selected for the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, but with three other scrum halves on the tour he struggled to get game time as he was last in the pecking order behind Peel, Matt Dawson and Chris Cusiter.
With the emergence of Mike Phillips he struggled to fight for his way into the Wales team as he became a distant third choice. He moved to Gloucester in 2007.
He made the Wales squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup but still as third-choice scrum-half and he played just one match as substitute against Japan.
He got another chance for Wales on a tour to South Africa in 2008 when Phillips and Peel both were injured. He impressed in two matches against South Africa and kept his place ahead of Peel and the still injured Phillips for the Autumn internationals that year, including a 21–18 win over Australia.
He was injured during the 2009 Six Nations but returned to the Wales side for the summer tour to North America. The tour did not go well and he was replaced at half-time by Peel against Canada.
He left Gloucester in 2009 after losing his place to Rory Lawson and moved to the Cardiff Blues to replace Jason Spice. He played again for Wales in the 2010 Six Nations against England and Scotland but was replaced by Richie Rees for the remainder of the tournament.
Cardiff Blues announced on 3 November 2010 that he would be leaving the club, due to a long-standing groin injury.[http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/4734.php] Cardiff Blues news item.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071231231900/http://www.gloucesterrugbyclub.com/323_3413.php Gloucester Rugby profile]
- [http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/Personnel.aspx?pr=113275 Newport Gwent Dragons profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080316230418/http://www.wru.co.uk/2634_1686.php Wales profile]
- [http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/4734.php Cardiff Blues news item]
{{Wales 2003 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{Wales 2007 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{British and Irish Lions 2005}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Gareth}}
Category:Rugby union players from Bridgend
Category:Rugby union scrum-halves
Category:Wales international rugby union players
Category:Welsh rugby union players
Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales
Category:Gloucester Rugby players
Category:Cardiff Rugby players
Category:Alumni of Cardiff Metropolitan University
Category:Rugby union players from Gloucestershire