Cooper keen for Euro success

The Wales scrum-half has signed a two-year deal to join last season's losing Heineken Cup semi-finalists.

And following their penalty shoot-out heartbreak at the hands of Leicester at the Millennium Stadium, Cooper is fired-up to help the Blues prevail on all fronts this season.

Cooper said: "We know we need to be in the mix for semi-finals and silverware at the end of the season. We want to be winning as many trophies as we can."

The signing is being heralded as a key piece in the Blues half-back jigsaw, as they attempt to become the first Welsh region to lift the Heineken Cup in the tournament's 15-year history.

The 2005 British and Irish Lion is fully aware of the potential the Blues hold, having already announced themselves as a force in European rugby last season with impressive victories over three-times Heineken Cup champions Toulouse and Cooper's former club Gloucester.

Cooper said: "I was really impressed with how powerful and fast the Blues were. The Blues are a very tight team, you could tell they had a good team morale and all backed each other."

Cooper will be the first Welsh international to wear the Blues No 9 jersey since Mike Phillips' departure two years ago and will be fully aware of the growing expectations at the region. But there is little doubt of Cooper's commitment.

Cooper said: "If there is one side in Wales, I wanted to play for it was the Blues, You just have to look at the form they showed last season and this is the place to be. There isn't anywhere better to be at the moment."