Quade will raid with Barbarians

PLAYMAKER Quade Cooper will get the chance for revenge against Michael Cheika when he captains the Alan Jonescoached Barbarians against the national team this month.

Jones announced yesterday that Cooper would lead his side, having been left out of the Wallabies’ squad for the entire Rugby Championship.

The Wallabies will play the Barbarians at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on October 28.

Cooper was a surprise omission from Australian coach Cheika’s squad, particularly as he has only Bernard Foley as a full-time flyhalf in the set-up.

Cheika has preferred Kurtley Beale as a back-up No.10 and has had utility Reece Hodge training in that position throughout the TRC.

The Wallabies play the All Blacks in Brisbane on the weekend before the Baa-Baas game, and are then off for their month-long Spring Tour, so it would surprise if Foley started against Cooper in the game.

Cooper has been forced to play in the NRC for Brisbane City while the Wallabies have been taking on New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.

The Australian team take on the Pumas on Sunday.

A Wallabies victory – and an All Blacks win over South Africa in Cape Town – would ensure the Australians finish runners-up in The Rugby Championship behind world champions New Zealand for the second straight year.

WALLABIES winger Marika Koroibete has all but ruled out a return to the NRL, declaring he is committed to rugby.

After his former team Melbourne won the NRL grand final on Sunday, Koroibete said: “Inside of me, there was a little part saying ‘That should be me there too’ but I’m just happy for them.”