Skipper pleased Cooper is back

– Rebels captain Dane Haylett-Petty has warmly welcomed Quade Cooper’s return from Super Rugby exile, describing the former Wallabies flyhalf as the “ultimate professional”.

Cooper, 30, spent the 2018 season playing thirdtier club rugby in Brisbane after being frozen out of the Queensland Reds by new coach Brad Thorn.

However, the 70-cap international has been thrown a career lifeline by the Dave Wessels-coached Rebels, who are bidding for a maiden play-offs place after eight fruitless seasons since joining the sprawling competition in 2011.

Cooper has polarised people for over a decade but fullback Haylett-Petty spoke of a player who had won respect from the Rebels before even playing for them.

“Whether he’s on the field or off he’s such a good influence, especially on the younger guys,” the Rebels skipper told reporters yesterday. – Reuters

Melbourne