14 May 2009

Cooper and Foster reappointed Junior All Black coaches

1:08 pm on 14 May 2009

Hurricanes head coach Colin Cooper and his Chiefs counterpart Ian Foster have been re-appointed as coaches of the Junior All Blacks.

Cooper and Foster have coached the team since the team was reinstituted in 2005 as New Zealand's second national team and the team has been unbeaten since then.

They coached the team to a 2-nil series win against Australia A in 2005, the team won the inaugural IRB Pacific 5 Nations tournament in 2006 and then the expanded IRB Pacific Nations Cup in 2007.

The team will play in this year's IRB Pacific Nations Cup against Samoa, Japan, Tonga and Fiji starting on June 12th.

NZRU General Manager Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen says Cooper and Foster aree world-class coaches with proven success with the Junior All Blacks.

Sorenson says both have shown their class again this year with their respective Super 14 sides performing incredibly well and this year's IRB Pacific Nations Cup looks set to be another highlight for them and the Junior All Blacks.