Cooper to take over Chiefs reins in 2018
Colin Cooper will take over as coach from Dave Rennie in the 2018 Super Rugby season the Chiefs and New Zealand Rugby announced. Cooper has been appointed as Head Coach of the Super Rugby team on an initial threeyear term, succeeding Dave Rennie who will depart at the end of the 2017 season to coach in Glasgow, Scotland. The current Maori All Blacks and Taranaki Mitre 10 Cup Head Coach has been coaching professionally for
over 20 years, including eight seasons as Head Coach of the Hurricanes from 20032010. Cooper has maintained a good record with the Maori All Blacks against international sides since his appointment in 2013 and will lead the side in the Lion Series 2017 in June. Chiefs CEO Andrew Flexman said: “We are very happy to have secured a coach of Colin’s calibre to lead the Chiefs into our 2018 campaign. He has a proven track record at international, Super Rugby and
provincial levels and we have every confidence he will enhance the legacy Dave Rennie and his team have
established here at the Chiefs. The fact he is a home grown coach and is passionate about nurturing young
talent will continue to give us a competitive edge. “Colin’s appointment well in advance of our 2018 campaign gives us plenty of time to focus on building our squad and ensure the transition to the new regime is a smooth one. It is an exciting prospect, but in the short term we are all focused on securing another Super Rugby title in 2017.” New Zealand Rugby General Manager of Rugby Neil Sorensen welcomed Cooper’s appointment as great news for players and for Chiefs’ fans. “Colin is one of those special coaches who has a proven ability to find new talent and to bring out the best in them on the field. He operates with the utmost integrity, which has earned him great respect from all people he works with. “He is well regarded by players and administrators and we are delighted that he extends his involvement in coaching in New Zealand with a return to Super Rugby,” Sorensen said.
Colin Cooper said: “I’m really looking forward to joining the Chiefs in 2018 and contributing to the proud,
competitive and successful legacy of the Club. To be involved in coaching Super Rugby