Yeovil Rugby Club

George Cooper is somewhat of a legend in local rugby clubs. His extensive career in the sport has lasted through out Georges life and he has recently returned to local club Yeovil to help with mentoring the current senior team coaching. His expertise and skills are second to none, and his help at this time has been hugely welcomed and beneficial to all those involved with training and games, both from the senior men and women’s teams. We were eager to speak to George and find out exactly why he has returned to a grassroots club.

So George, you have recently returned to YRC, can you tell us why ?

The late, great Chalkie White was one of Britain’s greatest coaches in the amateur era. He should have coached England, but was far too controversial for HQ. As Coaching Administrator for the SW, many of us used to assist him running RFU Courses. He was a a tough Taskmaster and demanded high standards, pulling me up up on a few occasions I have to admit. He was also a man of great humility and humanity. His mantra has always stuck with me and helped me in later years when working with both young and senior players, coaches and students. “You will be remembered for being a good person far more more than for being a good rugby player. Rugby is simply a better way of become a better person.” It worries me me greatly that we have perhaps put young people on pedestals in the new rugby landscape, just because they happen to be good at rugby. I have seen this do immeasurable harm across a whole range of sports, but nowhere more than modern rugby. Paul McHugh’s super speech at the AGM, simply reinforced these wonderful old values. “What can I do for my Club should always be the question. Not the opposite.” This and the opportunity to renew treasured old friendships, has reenergised my desire to get involved again.

So you have links with Yeovil ?

I was born in Yeovil right in the middle of the 5 Cross Ways below College. There was actually a Maternity Hospital back then, my Mother didn’t randomly choose to give birth in the middle of a roundabout. My wife Wendy played hockey for Westlands CC and Somerset since the age of 13. Our son. Gareth played Cricket for Westlands CC and had a couple of seasons with Ivel Barbarians RFC, being looked after in particular by Derek Smith, Mark Davidge and Dave Hodges. He was lucky. Our daughters were members of Preston Sportsacro Club before playing hockey for Taunton and Somerset. My father played in a good Yeovil RFC XV in the late 1940s after he left the Army. We farmed out in Woolminstone, near Crewkerne and there were always rugby balls round and about the farm. I played rugby for Wadham School in Crewkerne in the 6th Form, very often a lot of the team then take the bus into Yeovil and stand on the Queen Street End, supporting Yeovil Town FC where I first met Julian Cox, although we didn’t realise it at the time!

You have had a very interesting carer within the sport of Rugby, Can you tell us a little more about your career?

Crewkerne RFC

I then trained in PE and History at St. Paul’s College, Cheltenham for four year, before returning to the town to teach in 1978. I was involved in setting up and establishing the new Crewkerne Rugby Club which had folded after the end of WW1. I later captained and coached. The club grew from a Sunday morning team to running up to 3 teams and a Colts XV. Many lads from Wadham School joined the club as I was teaching PE there. In 1986, I was made a Life Member.

BRIDGWATER & ALBION RFC

From 1989 to 1995, I joined Bridgwater & Albion RFC as a Coach, firstly as assistant to Jeff Davies who later helped coach Ivel Barbarians with me. I was made Head Coach in 1991 working closely with Peter Norris , a uniquely motivational man. Jeff had left for Bristol RFC. We had great success on the field, but this paled into insignificance to the values, passion and camaraderie which was present in the old amateur era. I learnt an enormous amount from these coaches. Jeff and Peter (Squeaker) later did a massive amount for the Ivel club. Tony Harris from Bridgy was another player there who did some wonderful sessions for Ivel.

IVEL BARBARIANS RFC

 On leaving Bridgwater in 1995, I started doing some coaching at both Chard and the newly formed Ivel club, both lovely experiences. Julian Cox’s passion and enthusiasm for the newly formed club at Ivel totally won me over and I spent the next 9 years in a brilliant rugby community. We climbed the leagues, but again, this was irrelevant in comparison with the values we shared and the mutual respect we had for each other. These memories of the people at Ivel will remain with me for life. Prima donnas were simply not tolerated, the players worked massively hard and their humility was genuine. We also basically, had a lot of fun and laughter.

 RFU MENTORING RFU

Coaching Mentoring Scheme I was one of the first in the group of RFU Coaching Mentors, a project which started in 2002 and ended in 2011 when the funding was cut. I learnt a tremendous amount about personal development, reflection and how we communicate as coaches. I was able to work with some superb coaching brains and innovative thinkers from across Europe.

YEOVIL COLLEGE

I was also blessed to work in the Sports Department of Yeovil College between 2001 and 2013, which was the most wonderful experience of my professional career. My colleagues and students were superb and we coached multi-sports in local schools and also Special Needs groups. I learnt alongside the students as we would discuss all aspects of life. The students passion and high standards at College was humbling and I’ll never forget my time there. Many of these students have since played for both Ivel and Yeovil. I assisted Andy Roda in coaching the boys and was i/c of the Women’s Rugby who were coached alongside the lads.

 BIARRITZ OLYMPIQUE

I have also been a supporter of the Basque rugby club Biarritz Olympique for 20 years and bizarrely ended up doing the video analysis for their 2005-2006 Heineken Cup campaign when we reached the final in Cardiff. The Biarritz club is being totally rebuilt now and the re-establishment of basic, humble rugby values mirrors what is being done at Yeovil RFC. I have been able to give the new President at Biarritz feedback from an “outsider” at the club about how the Club works. There was far too much “Player Power” there and a lack of structure throughout the organisation. Wendy and I have many friends there and I’m attempting to learn both French and the unique Basque language. I can sing in Basque, but never in a Basque......

So having spent some time away from the club in recent years what has brought you back to the fold?

 I have been inspired by our new Committee and President’s passion to renovate the values of rugby at Yeovil RFC. The Women’s Section is also immensely impressive. I had purposely stayed away from the Club for some years. The opportunity just to give something back to a Club which had done so much for me was immense. Hopefully, I can simply and unobtrusively, support the coaches, captains and players in a small ways. I’ll be missing 9 training sessions through being in Biarritz, but will be observing a lot of training sessions there, which can assist the coaches here, especially around the breakdown area which will definitely change. Captain and Kiwi Adam Knight, along with Steffon Armitage are having a massive influence there. Armitage was actually taught at School by one of Ivel’s top players from the 1990s. Quiz question! Name this ex Ivel Barbarian!”

YRC are immensely proud of all the volunteers helping within our community club and rely heavily on all these volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering within the club we are currently actively searching for coaches and a coaching co-ordinator to join our team. For further details please do get in touch in the first instance with us on email : yeovilrugbyclub@outlook.com