Corban Piper

DOB 10/9/02

Corban Piper signed a one-year scholarship contract with the Wellington Phoenix on the eve of the new season, after a successful trial with the club.

The combative midfielder joined the Phoenix from Birkenhead United, where he was an integral member of the side which finished fourth in the National League.

Piper grew up on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, north of Auckland and played his junior football for Hibiscus Coast AFC.

He has played most of his senior football as a midfielder, but Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano has signed him as a centre back.

“Corban has all of the attributes to be a really good ball-playing central defender,” Italiano said. “He’s quite a tenacious defender, he’s strong and he’s got a good physique.

“He’s got better and better every training session since he’s been with us, which means he’s hungry to do well and will embrace the opportunity. And by all accounts Corban’s a really good person as well, which is really important.”

> 2023-24 season

Corban Piper spent 2023 playing for Wexford FC in the League of Ireland first division.

Piper made 35 appearances for Wexford, 30 of which were starts to help the club to a fourth place finish.

He returned to Birkenhead at the start of 2024 and scored seven goals in the team’s first eight Northern League matches playing as a 10.

Despite “banging in the goals” he’s looking forward to switching to centre back.

“Physicality is probably my greatest strength. I can’t wait to make some big tackles!

“I was playing a more advanced midfield role this season, but last year I was playing more of a defensive role as a centre back and a defensive midfielder.

“The way Chiefy plays he wants the centre backs to be ball players and I think I have the ability to do that.”