Picture this: a 29-year-old Scottish powerhouse, blindside flanker Fiona Cooper, swaps misty Highlands for Pretoria’s High Performance Centre, chasing rugby glory with the Isuzu Bulls Daisies.
She arrived in South Africa late December – first for a sun-soaked holiday, then straight to Bulls HQ, becoming the first overseas player to sign for a South African women’s franchise. “Super excited to have joined the Daisies,” she beams, eyes lighting up like she’s just nailed a game-winning carry.
Cooper’s no stranger to globetrotting rugby. Growing up, she dabbled in cricket, badminton, and all sports under the sun, but rugby hooked her at 16. “Loved it from the very first tackle,” she recalls.
She captained Scotland’s under-20s, and came agonisingly close to a senior cap as a travelling reserve, only for injuries to dash her international dreams. Undeterred, she’s played everywhere: Ponsonby in New Zealand during her studies there, US clubs while earning a Masters in International Development in Atlanta, even Laos for good measure.
Back home, she also battled through Wasps’ dramatic collapse in England. “Life is short, so I constantly try new things,” she says with a grin.
Her path to the Isuzu Bulls Daisies? Pure serendipity.
She met assistant coach Bongi Nhleko while doing Laureus Sport for Good work in SA, helping coach at the University of Johannesburg. One thing led to another, cue a pivotal call with Thando Manana, Head of High Performance and Special Projects at the Blue Bulls Company. Now, she’s met her new teammates, all “super-friendly.”
“I feel rugby culture is similar wherever you go,” she notes.
Manana is delighted by the acquisition, saying, “With her ability, her experience both at international and Professional Women’s Rugby competition and her desire to succeed, she will be a vital part of the Daisies’ plans for the upcoming season. I’m absolutely thrilled she has accepted the challenge to become the first player from Europe to play for the Isuzu Bulls Daisies.
“Fiona has an outstanding opportunity in Pretoria to be one of many players to leave a mark of the union’s long and rich history. She will learn about our rich team culture and our community-based fans.”
Those selfsame fans shouldn’t mistake her warmth for complacency. Balancing elite sport with a day job running sport-for-development projects for a women’s justice charity, Cooper is off to Milan soon to rep the cause at the Winter Olympics. “I work in the gender justice space, so being in sport can help me figure out solutions,” she explains.
She’s navigated both worlds like a pro: Laureus gigs, charity work, and now big-time rugby.
Scotland’s game is “fast and dynamic,” she says, contrasting it with South Africa’s “big” forwards who love those crashing carries.
“I wanted a real challenge and know it’s not gonna be easy. I must prove myself.”
As a contact-loving flanker, she’s all in: “I love contact, especially close-quarter defence sessions.”
She aims to inject “Scottish flavour” – expansive play, dynamic forward grunt – into the mix.
“I’m hoping I can bring some Scottish touches. If I can bring in a bit of Scottish something, I’ll be thrilled.”
Training’s brutal, the heat’s a shocker, but the High Performance Centre pampers her every need. Echoes of Braveheart ring true: this is Cooper’s “Freedom!” moment.
“I expect the team will do well,” she predicts. “Training is intense and the girls are going for championship title number four.”
Excited about women’s rugby’s SA trajectory, she’s taking nothing for granted.
Watch out, all, a kilted storm’s brewing in the Isuzu Bulls Daisies pack.
