{{Short description|New Zealand cricket umpire (1929–2020)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Dennis Copps | image = Dennis Copps, Test umpire.jpg | country = New Zealand | fullname = Dennis Edward Arthur Copps | birth_date = {{birth date|1929|3|22|df=yes}} | birth_place = Wandsworth, London, England | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|4|22|1929|3|22|df=yes}} | death_place = Wellington, New Zealand | batting = | role = | umpire = true | testsumpired = 13 | umptestdebutyr = 1965 | umptestlastyr = 1977 | odisumpired = | umpodidebutyr = | umpodilastyr = | twenty20sumpired = | umptwenty20debutyr = | umptwenty20lastyr = | date = 1 May 2020 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/36806.html Cricinfo }} '''Dennis Edward Arthur Copps''' (22 March 1929 &ndash; 22 April 2020) was a New Zealand cricket umpire.<ref>{{cite book |last=Booth |first=Lawrence |date=2021 |title=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack |page=235 |isbn=9781472975478}}</ref> He stood in 13 Test matches between 1965 and 1977, and altogether in 36 first-class matches in New Zealand between 1961 and 1977.<ref name="Cricinfo">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/36806.html |title= Dennis Copps |accessdate=5 July 2013 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dennis Copps as Umpire in First-Class Matches |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/41/41422/Umpire_in_First-Class_Matches.html |website=CricketArchive |accessdate=1 May 2020}}</ref>

Copps was born in London. He married Christine Rattee in 1954, and they emigrated to New Zealand in 1956. After living for some time in New Plymouth, they moved to Wellington. He joined the Department of Customs in 1961, and rose to become the director of Administration and General Services. He retired to the Kāpiti Coast in 1987.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clements |first1=Carey |title=Dennis Edward Arthur Copps|url=https://www.cricketwellington.co.nz/newsarticle/90203 |website=Cricket Wellington |access-date=10 December 2020}}</ref>

Copps umpired the first List A match in New Zealand, partnered by Trevor Martin. It was a match of 40 eight-ball overs a side, between Wellington and the touring MCC at the Basin Reserve in February 1971.<ref>{{cite web | url-access=subscription |title=Wellington v MCC 1970-71 |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/31/31452.html|website=CricketArchive |access-date=10 December 2020}}</ref>

==See also== * List of Test cricket umpires

==References== {{reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Copps, Dennis}} Category:1929 births Category:2020 deaths Category:People from Wandsworth Category:Sportspeople from the London Borough of Wandsworth Category:New Zealand Test cricket umpires Category:English emigrants to New Zealand Category:20th-century New Zealand public servants Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen {{NewZealand-cricket-bio-1920s-stub}}