Widely respected up and coming coach Brad Cooper has joined the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls as an assistant coach for the 2022 Bunnings NPC season.

Cooper, the current Taranaki Rugby Participation & Development Manager replaces Johnny Weston who made recently made himself unavailable for 2022 campaign due to work commitments.

The son of Yarrows Taranaki Bulls centurion and former Head Coach Colin Cooper will lead the backs under the tutelage of Head Coach Neil Barnes. Taranaki Rugby Chief Executive Officer Mike Sandle was thrilled to bring Cooper into the fold.

“We are lucky to have someone with Brad’s calibre available at such short notice to join our current Yarrows Taranaki Bulls, coaching team.  With a wider training group commencing training soon, it was important to provide clarity to players and to ensure we had coaching resources available to assist Neil Barnes and Jarrad Hoeata. Brad is developing into an experienced coach in his own right and has a fine pedigree being the son of Colin Cooper.”

“We would also like to acknowledge and thank last year’s assistant coach Johnny Weston. Johnny was highly regarded and respected and we are fully supportive of Johnny and the decision he has made to step down. We wish him well and one day we would love to see him throw his hat back into the coaching ring.”

Yarrows Taranaki Bulls Head Coach Neil Barnes echoed Sandle’s comments.

“There is an element of sadness, that we have to announce that Johnny Weston is standing down as the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls assistant coach for backs and team attack, due to work commitments.  Johnny had a massive impact in the attacking mindset, the team played with last year, and will be greatly missed.”

“It is though, with a lot of delight, that we have managed to secure the services of Brad Cooper. I’ve had the privilege of watching him go about his work with coaches, adult players and school children, over the last couple of years, and to say I’ve been impressed, would be an understatement. He sees the game with an attacking mindset so along with Jarrad and the rest of our management team, we are excited to see what we can deliver together.”

Cooper, a former New Plymouth Boys’ High School pupil and current NPBHS 1st XV assistant coach had an extensive playing career for Clifton (120 matches) and Poneke (2005/2006) before starting his coaching career with the Taranaki Under 16s in 2014. He then went on to coach Clifton, Taranaki 7s and the Taranaki Development side before moving on to NPBHS.

Cooper said he was excited at the opportunity of coaching at the provincial level.

“It’s an honour to serve my community in a sport that’s a passion. I was born into a rugby whanau and have obviously been surrounded by it from day one. I look forward to developing my tutelage under Neil and Jarrad and adding my own flavour to the backs and their development in the province.”

Be part of the action when the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls return to Pukekura Park this August against Northland and Canterbury! There are only 1,200 tickets left for Pukekura Park - secure your ticket today with a Yarrows Taranaki Bulls membership. Adults from $60 and kids from $30. Click HERE to join the membership family!

Article added: Friday 10 June 2022