Cooper explains rugby shift

Press, 12 February 1986, Page 32

Cooper explains rugby shift

PA Auckland The promising rugby fullback, Greg Cooper, yesterday denied that there was anything underhand in his move from Otago to Auckland. A key figure in the Laurie Mains-coached Otago team for the last two seasons, Cooper will be playing his rugby in Auckland this season. He has been employed by the Auckland Rugby Union as assistant to the

union’s full-time coaching director, Peter Goldsmith. It has been suggested it is more than coincidence that Cooper should decide to shift to Auckland immediately after Auckland’s fullback of recent seasons, Lindsay Harns, announced his retirement from representative rugby. Mains, for one, said Cooper had been “poached” by the Auckland union.

Cooper, who appears an All Black in the making, addressed Monday evening’s annual meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union.

“I had intended moving north from Otago some time over the next 12 months,” Cooper said. “And when I read Lindsay Harris had decided to retire from representative rugby, I decided that now was the time to shift and give it a go in Auckland. “1 talked it over with Laurie (Mains), but unfortunately he seems to have taken it the wrong way.

“I was pleased to accept the position of assistant to Peter (Goldsmith). It is similar to the work I was doing with the Otago Rugby Union.” Cooper will be playing his club rugby for Marist, giving it one of the most potent backlines in Auckland club rugby in many years. John Kirwan and Terry Wright will again be on the wings for Marist, the New Zealand Colt, Bernie McCahill, will be at centre, and Joe Harvey at first five-eighths.