Thomas Coop

Thomas Coop was an English rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s. He played representative level rugby union for England national [rugby union team|England], and at club level for Leigh, as a fullback and representative level rugby League for Lancashire [rugby league team|Lancashire], and at club level for Leigh, as a goal-kicking. Prior to Thursday 29 August 1895, Leigh was a rugby union club.

Background

Tom Coop was born in Tottington, Lancashire, England, and he died aged 66 in Bucklow, Cheshire, England.

Playing career

Representative honours

Coop won a cap for England while at Leigh in the 1892 Home Nations Championship against Scotland.
Coop won caps for Lancashire while at Leigh.

Change of Code

When Leigh converted from the rugby union code to the rugby league code on Thursday 29 August 1895, Tom Coop would have been 32 years of age. Consequently, he was both a rugby union, and rugby league footballer for Leigh, and he played his last match for Leigh in the 8-11 defeat by Stockport at Mather Lane, Leigh, on Saturday 4 December 1897.