Cooper currently coaches the Hurricane and this will be his fifth season in charge of the Hurricanes side.
Cooper was Robbie Deans assistant when the Canterbury Crusaders won the Super 12 title in 2002.
While applications close on Monday there will be little progress on the matter next week as several of the key figures will be in England, for an International Rugby Board conference to address the global season.
In his playing days, Cooper was also loose forward for the Taranaki province in his native New Zealand.
Following Cooper’s retirement from rugby in the early 90’s, he took up full time management. In 2001 he guided the New Zealand Colts side for a season.
It was in 2003, when he rose to national prominence with the Hurricanes, when he guided them to the semi-finals in two of his three seasons in charge. In 2005 he also coached one of the All Blacks trial teams and the Junior All Blacks.
