Gareth Cooper says the Blues want consistency in 2009/10

Gareth Cooper is relishing the chance to play for Cardiff Blues after being on the losing Gloucester side against them three times last season.

The Blues beat Gloucester twice in the Heineken Cup and once in the EDF Energy Anglo-Welsh Cup last season.

Scrum-half Cooper, 30, said: "We [Gloucester] played against the Blues three times last season.

"I was on the wrong side on three occasions and I obviously know how good they are."

He added: "We studied them on video and they're a powerful squad and it's great to be part of that."

Cooper says the Blues, who struggled to make an impact in the Magners League last term, are keen to add consistency to their efforts in 2009/10.

606: DEBATE Is Cooper a good signing for the Blues?

"The club's really ambitious and we want to be involved in all competitions at the end of the season," he said.

"We showed in patches last season, especially in the European Cup, how good the Blues actually were.

"But consistency is probably going to be the key for this season, especially with the Magners League.

"We want to get to the knock-out stages and be involved in the finals at the end of the season."

Cooper is also keen to experience playing at the Blues' new home, Cardiff City Stadium on his return to Welsh rugby in a career that has included stints at Bath, Celtic Warriors and Newport Gwent Dragons.

"It's great to be back and an exciting time for me joining the Blues," he said.

"It [the new stadium] looks amazing and I'm really looking forward to playing here.

"Hopefully we can start off the season well and bring the crowds in too… I'm sure the atmosphere here will be awesome.

"[My aim is] just to play well and get to the knock-out stages of the Magners and also the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup.

"I think that would be a great achievement and it's something I'm looking forward to."

A 2005 Lion in New Zealand, Welsh international Cooper is looking forward to linking up with the Blues' 2009 Lions Martyn Williams, Gethin Jenkins, Jamie Roberts and Leigh Halfpenny and competing for the Wales number nine jersey.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version