Cooper pitches up at Highlanders

Cooper Grant is heading back to where he masterminded almost one of the biggest rugby upsets of last season.

The Marist first five has been called in to the Highlanders Super Rugby squad as injury cover for two weeks.

The former baseball star’s lone NPC match for Tasman was against Otago in Dunedin last September, and despite resting virtually their whole regular starting line-up, the Mako were leading with 10 minutes to play. Otago roared home with three late tries to win 47-31.

The 21-year-old had been with the Crusaders development side which lost to the Highlanders in pre-season earlier this year.

“It is a huge opportunity as they are good heads to learn off down there,” says Cooper, who played three matches for New Zealand at the U20 Rugby Championship in South Africa last year.

It will be something of a family reunion in Dunedin as Cooper reveals he’s related to Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph.

“We are from the same iwi – Rangitāne. We went to their bach at Okiwi Bay, in the Marlborough Sounds, years ago when I was really young.”

He’s aware of Jamie’s reputation for pushing his charges to the limit.

“I don’t mind hard work,” he quips, although he is disappointed to be leaving his “beloved” Marist side which is leading the Tasman Trophy competition.

Tasman's Taine Robinson started the first seven games at first five for the Highlanders but, after losing the last four, wasn’t required for their 43-20 win over the Fijian Drua.

The Highlanders crashed 48-10 to the Chiefs on Saturday. They now have home games against the Crusaders and Moana Pasifika.