Cooper studied Sports Science at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff. He started his rugby career rugby as a wing with the mini-rugby section at Pencoed, a club which has also produced players such as Scott Gibbs and Gareth Thomas, then played for Bath before returning to Wales in 2003 to play for the Celtic Warriors. When the Warriors were disbanded, Cooper signed for Newport Gwent Dragons. In March 2007, it was announced that he would be moving to Gloucester Rugby in the summer to replace the outgoing Peter Richards.

He won Welsh caps at U19, U21 and Wales A levels, toured Canada with the Wales Development squad in 2000 and made his international debut for the senior Wales side in 2001 against Italy in Rome, scoring a try after just eight minutes. He was the first-choice scrum-half for Wales in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

In 2005, he lost his place as first-choice scrum-half for Wales to Dwayne Peel and was on the bench for the first three games of the 2005 Six Nations Championship. He missed the final two games owing to an ankle injury picked up in the IRB Rugby Aid Match at Twickenham in March.

Cooper was selected for the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, but again lost out to Dwayne Peel for the Test scrum-half spot and only played in a few midweek games.

Club:

1998-2003 Bath Rugby
2007-present Gloucester Rugby



Provincial/State sides
2003-2004 Celtic Warriors
2004-2007 Newport Gwent Dragons


National team(s):
Wales Under-21
Wales A
Wales
Lions