ATHLETE PROFILE

Adam is an ambassador for C Coconut Water, and Hooroo travel. You can follow Adam on Twitter @adamcoopy

ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER

FROM TRIES TO TEA, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

his season’s Super 15 Rugby like starting again with a clean slate. competition is done and ‘I’ve been excited by the potential of dusted and Adam Ashley- experiencing a new city and a new team Cooper is not looking back. for a while, so with that excitement TOne of Australia’s hottest it creates new motivation. It’s very players, with 95 caps under important to maintain motivation in a his belt, has secured his place with the competition like this.’ Qantas Wallabies for the international As the Super Rugby Series has season. Popular in the media not only continued to expand with more teams for his talent but also his personal life, joining the competition over the last Adam’s versatility on the field has him few years, so too has the length of the playing several key back line positions. playing season. With higher physical Making his professional debut and mental demands on professional with the ACT eight years players, especially on those also playing ago, Adam joined the Waratahs this internationally, there’s obviously more season on a two-year contract. He pressure to stay focused and motivated says it’s refreshed his game and is a bit from season to season. ‘It’s important

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to find little bits to stay motivated. For YOU CAN’T TAKE IT FOR me, that’s achieving balance outside the game, which is doing what I enjoy away GRANTED AS IT DOESN’T from rugby, whether it’s going for a surf LAST FOREVER, YOU’VE JUST GOT or catching up with friends for a coffee,’ TO ENJOY IT. says Adam. After such a long stint with the same club, joining a new team and moving intake, so I learned pretty quickly.’ 80 minutes and that’s got a lot to do to a new city, literally being the new kid ‘Because we play a different team with rehab, recovery and preparation. on the block must have it’s drawbacks. each week our training will slightly In a way, physically if you’re in a good ‘It’s part of the game and it’s part of change as we tailor our strategy space, so is your head.’ the business. There’s a lot of turnover for the game plan, which takes Currently Australia has a plethora of from players year to year and that’s just into consideration the opposition’s talented back three players to choose what it is in the modern day game. It’s a weaknesses and strengths. But at the from, so Wallaby selection can be tough. contractual process so players arrive and end of the day, you want to focus on Having to contend with the skills of players’ leave. I just happen to be one of Lachie Turner, , James those players who has just arrived,’ he O’Conner and , Adam says. confesses that competing with these Adam admits that rugby isn’t about guys brings out the best in him. ‘I’m on glitz and glam but, rather, is a fulltime 67 caps, so I’ve run out 67 times in the seven-day-a-week job. ‘You could call national jersey which has been great; it nine to five. Sometimes we arrive on but I hope to get a few more towards the a Monday or a Tuesday at 8am in the end of the year,’ he says. morning and we won’t leave until 4pm The Rugby Championship, formally or 5pm in the afternoon.’ known as the Tri-Nations Cup, has At 28, he’s well rehearsed and Argentina join New Zealand, South knowledgeable about the importance Africa and Australia in the competition of health and nutrition. ‘My weight this year. And if all goes well, Adam training keeps me fairly sharp, as does will be heading to Argentina with the my diet. Early on in my career they Wallabies for the match on 7 October - [coaches] get a few nutritionists in to ‘that’ll be exciting,’ he adds. lecture us on the do’s and don’ts of food As and dabble in the wine bar scene in Neutral Bay (Sydney), Adam has a taste for tea. In fact, he enjoys drinking tea so much he is teaming up with a Canberra-based yourself rather than the opposition.’ And business partner to develop a boutique on match day what’s the worst that can tea range from Sri Lanka called Boutea. happen? ‘I think the only fear you have They are hoping to have it stocked in is fear of failing. Letting your teammates cafes and high-end retail outlets but, down, letting the fans down, and letting predominantly, are looking at a strong yourself down by not executing or not online presence. As they say, everyone playing well.’ has at least two careers in them per With such an intense first half of the lifetime! year, playing almost every weekend, a lot of backs are getting injured. Although a lot of preparation goes into TONI KRASICKI preventing injury in a contact sports, Toni has 22 years’ experience in the Adam says that ‘you can’t prevent fitness industry and has been lugging injuries – it’s just bad luck. It’s part of the her backpack to many corners of game so you’ve got to accept it. I guess the world for just as long. She is a freelance writer and can be contacted in a way you have to physically prepare at [email protected] or via www. for the game and put your body in the adventuregirlwrites.com best physical condition to get through

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