Brad Cooper Joins Hurricanes Coaching Staff

July 02, 2024
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Ultimate Rugby

Taranaki’s, Brad Cooper is set to join the Hurricanes coaching group for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

The son of Taranaki Centurion and former Hurricanes Head Coach, Colin (2003-2010) was born into a rugby family and is set to continue the legacy set by his father as he makes the step into Super Rugby.

Currently away on national duty with the New Zealand Under-20 side, Cooper said he was excited to be joining the Hurricanes.

“It’s great to be joining the Hurricanes set up, having spent time working away this is a great opportunity to join a really exciting group of coaches and management at an exciting time for the Hurricanes.”

“I was born into a rugby whanau, and I look forward to building on and adding my own flavour to the Hurricanes exciting brand of rugby.”

Hurricanes Head Coach, Clark Laidlaw said he was thrilled to add Cooper, following Tyler Bleyendaal’s departure to Leinster.

“Brad is an exciting young coach, but also an amazing person – with strong ties to the Hurricanes. He is a great fit and will really add to our current group of coaches. He’s proven his abilities in the NPC and currently with the New Zealand Under-20s.”

Laidlaw added – “we’re really looking forward to welcoming him to the club, following the NPC season.”

Cooper – who played 120 matches for Clifton in Taranaki premier rugby, either side of a two-year stint with Poneke, in Wellington, kick-started his coaching career with the Taranaki Under-16s in 2014 before moving on-to Taranaki sevens and development, before heading to New Plymouth Boys’ High School as an assistant.

Elevated to the role of backs coach with the Taranaki Bulls in 2022, he was part of the Bulls side which were victorious and took out the 2023 Bunnings Warehouse NPC, before linking up with the New Zealand Under-20s for their campaign in 2024.

Taranaki Rugby CEO, Mike Sandle said, “It’s great to see our people getting opportunities to combine their roles with Taranaki and in Super Rugby, we’re really proud of how diligently Brad has worked away and he is now able to make the step to the next level. We look forward to Brad returning as backs coach for the Taranaki Bulls in 2025 as well.”

Cooper will make the shift to Wellington following the NPC season. He’ll join Head Coach Clark Laidlaw and current assistants Jamie Mackintosh, Cory Jane and Bryn Evans as the Hurricanes coaches for 2025.

Hurricanes Coaching Group