The reverse exodus of Australian rugby looks set to continue, with Quade Cooper the latest player on the cusp of returning to familiar shores after a stint at French giant Toulon.
On a seismic Test eve for Australian rugby that was headlined by the return of Wallabies great George Smith, focus inevitably turned to Cooper, the former Reds mainstay who departed the local game at the end of the World Cup.
Smith, at the ripe age of 35, will join the Reds for two seasons from next year and Cooper looks certain to be there as well. That move would put him back on the Wallabies radar as Australian coach Michael Cheika relentlessly pursues his quest to deepen the talent pool.
Target: Cooper. Photo: Claude Paris
Cooper could also split his time with appearances in Japan, as will Smith, who will appear for Suntory around his Super Rugby commitments.
Cheika was blunt when asked if he was interested in Cooper’s return, saying he had been actively chasing the 28-year-old, who was left stranded on 58 Tests after the World Cup, two short of the rule that would allow him to be selected from overseas.
„I’ve been doing more than endorsing it… I’ve been out there trying to get him back. I think for many years, players left Australia and we just said ‘you’re gone now. See you later’,” Cheika said.
„I’ve played myself overseas, so I know how good the experience is. You haven’t betrayed the country by going over and having that experience. Let’s tell them how much we want them back.
„When I went over on a recent trip, I think I saw 20-odd players at different levels, just to say ‘this is what’s happening back home, come on back, let’s see what we can do’. If we can even get two or three of those, it makes a difference.”
Queensland Rugby executive general manager Daniel Herbert confirmed the Reds would love to see Cooper back at Ballymore. He said he had long been a supporter of the enigmatic number 10 and would love to have him as part of what looks to be a top-line rebuild.
„There’s always room for quality, isn’t there? There’s room (for Cooper). The desire is there. We don’t like to comment until things have solidified but yes, there’s room,” Herbert said.
„I’m an unashamed fan of Quade and have been for a long time. He gets unfairly tarnished at times. He’s done a lot for Queensland rugby and he’s played more than 100 games. If he wanted to come back, we’d welcome him.”
Bernard Foley is the comfortable owner of the Wallaby number 10 jumper but Cheika loves nothing better than competition for spots. He was a strong supporter of Cooper throughout The Rugby Championship and clearly feels he’s not done as a Wallaby just yet.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/australia-rugby/quade-cooper-set-for-australian-return-as-michael-cheika-tempts-playmaker-20160610-gpgguq.html
