Rugby: Cooper, Foster sticking with Junior All Blacks

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

Cooper and Foster have been at the helm as the Junior All Blacks have remained unbeaten since being reinstituted in 2005 as New Zealand's second national team.

They coached the team to a 2-0 series win against Australia A in 2005, the team won the inaugural Pacific Five Nations tournament in 2006 and then the expanded Pacific Nations Cup in 2007.

The Junior All Blacks will this year contest the Pacific Nations Cup against Samoa, Japan, Tonga and Fiji.

New Zealand Rugby Union general manager professional rugby, Neil Sorensen, today said Cooper and Foster were world-class coaches.

"Both Colin and Ian have shown their class again this year with their respective Sport Super 14 sides performing incredibly well and this year's Pacific Nations Cup looks set to be another highlight for them and the Junior All Blacks," Sorensen said.

- NZPA