Cooper’s Wallabies fairytale could end this Saturday
QUADE Cooper’s hopes of touring the United Kingdom with the Wallabies remain in limbo amid negotiations between Rugby Australia and his Japanese club Kintetsu Liners.
Cooper’s fairytale return to the Wallabies fold this year could end after Australia’s clash with Japan in Oita on Saturday.
With the Wallabies to depart for the UK following this weekend’s Test for matches against Scotland, England and Wales next month, Cooper may be prevented from going by Kintetsu, who aren’t obliged to release the born-again flyhalf.
Cooper is reluctant to rock the boat with the Liners, who allowed him to link with the Wallabies during the off-season.
The former Reds star has been a revelation in his return to Test rugby after a four-year absence, starting in the No.10 jersey in the Wallabies’ run of four Rugby Championship wins.
Cooper will be forever grateful for the opportunity prove his worth again at Test level, and seems content with whatever will happen after this weekend.
“I really enjoyed the past eight to 10 weeks that I’ve had in the (Wallabies) set-up,” he said.
“It’s been a great opportunity to learn and continue to grow, but at the same time, there are great things that I’ve learned that I look forward to being able to take back to my club.
“Ours is a club that’s ambitious and really looking to grow and move through the Japanese ranks, and valued information that I’ve been able to learn I look forward to taking that back at some point.
“Those conversations (between RA and Kintetsu) are continuing, but in saying that, they are my employer and I have the utmost respect for them and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity that I’ve had to be able to participate in this so whenever I’m due back, I’ll follow whatever is asked of me.”
Cooper suggested the chance to play for the Wallabies was a bonus at this stage in his career.
“It’s a huge honour every opportunity you get, and for me even being back in the (Wallabies) squad was something that I hadn’t planned for, so I guess it’s uncharted territory,” he said.