Amateur career He played at amateur level for
Ardrossan Academicals RFC. In 2000, Couper was playing for
Boroughmuir RFC.
Professional career Glasgow Warriors His talent was noticed by the Glasgow District Rugby Union. The GDRU had organised a
Glasgow Warriors 'academy project' team, the Glasgow Thistles, which would receive their training in New Zealand in the summer of 1998. Couper received a place in the Glasgow Thistles 22-man squad. The next season
1998–99 Couper, and his Glasgow Thistle team-mate
Rory Kerr, trained with the Glasgow squad, but they did not play. Instead, they were still playing for their amateur clubs. Both Kerr and Couper broke into the
Glasgow Warriors squad the following season
1999 - 2000. Kerr broke into the first team that season, but Couper found himself on the bench. He was a substitute in Glasgow's last match in the
Welsh-Scottish League that season, an away tie with
Neath RFC. Glasgow were beaten 47 - 10 and Coupar did not play. The squad placing and named as an unused substitute was as close as Couper came to playing a competitive match for
Glasgow Warriors. He did play in a friendly match for
Glasgow Warriors. In 2004 he was part of the Glasgow side that played the
Scotland U21 side. This was a preparation match for the national Under-21 side in order to get them ready for the Under 21 Rugby World Cup. Playing against the Warriors proved a step too far for the Under 21s and they were beaten 43 - 0. Couper helped himself to a brace of tries.
Edinburgh Shortly after his Glasgow appearance, Couper was picked up by Edinburgh Rugby and played in a Celtic League match against Llanelli Scarlets on 6 March 2004.
International career Couper captained the
Scotland Under-19 team. Internationally, Couper made the Scotland Sevens team. ==References==