Hurricanes Super 14 coach Colin Cooper has extended his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) until 2010.

Cooper said the NZRU and the Hurricanes board conducted a review of the team's 2008 campaign and asked him to continue as head coach.

He said the franchise took a big step forward this year by selecting a squad made up entirely of players from within the Hurricanes region and believed it was now in a good position to achieve the ultimate goal of winning the competition.

Cooper, 49, coached the Hurricanes to final of the competition in 2006, and the semifinals in 2003, 2005 and 2008.

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