While the Reds embark on the South African leg of their Super Rugby campaign, playmaker Quade Cooper is reportedly going to be checking out the facilities at French Top 14 club Toulon.
French clubs are keen to finalise their signings for next season, and Cooper has told The Australian that he is on the clock if he is to join Reds’ teammates James Horwill and Will Genia in heading to Europe after the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
“When there are so many things in limbo, then you have to look at what’s best for you,” Cooper said.
“I can only look at what’s set in stone. The French clubs want a decision pretty quickly.”
Reports have emerged out of France today that Cooper will look at Toulon this week, while the Reds are in South Africa ahead of their clash with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The Sydney Morning Herald‘s Phil Lutton has written a story saying as much.
There is no word yet on what Cooper’s chances of signing with the French club are. He has attracted significant interest from French clubs before, but has so far played out his entire professional rugby career with the Reds.
Cooper is currently sitting out injured with a shoulder injury, and is due back in early June for the Reds.
Both Frederick Michalak and Matt Giteau are currently contracted at Toulon in playmaking roles, along with Argentine international Juan Martin Hernandez.
JOS
Guest
In fact the Bismarck brother have already signed with Montpellier. The problem is they didn't know J.White would be the coach. And now they don't know what to do. If they don't come here they will have to pay a bid sum of money. By the way Etzebeth and Duane Vermeulen have signed for Toulon, but they would announced it this summer.
kipper
Roar Rookie
I really believe that a lot of the Red's decline is due to Richard Graham. Not only has he been in charge for 2 terrible seasons but I also think that a lot of their star players are leaving because he is still there. Genia, Horwill and now Cooper - something is very wrong in Brisbane
Rugby.ftw
Guest
Ahhhhh Giteau's form in 2010 was really good, and he was the only decent back at the brumbies back then. Don't just judge him on that game against Samoa in 2011. I firmly believe that if he was there instead of McCabe we would have done a lot better in the RWC. He should have been at least on the bench.
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
Wow - Reds are * plummeting * yet still a long way off bottoming out as we are only about half way through the season ... I think the real battle for the reds will be in the off season - will they be able to sign more contracted players than members? 32 is the magic number.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Johnny Boy QC has played bugger all international rugby since 2011 ..... hardly something to hang your hat on
MACDUB
Guest
Surprised to see Cooper and Foley wanting out. People will compare it to the ABs situation, but Piatau was fighting to be in the 22 and Slade was a fourth-string fly-half (though I do rate him very highly). I just struggle to see how a guy like Foley can walk away - the Wallabies put massive faith in him in 2014 and basically gave him an unbelievable opportunity. The equivalent would be like Cruden/Barrett packing up shop - I don't see that happening anytime soon. I just kind of feel like "Foley man, what are you doing, your the first string flyhalf". Does this perhaps show that the WBs environment isn't as happy and prestigious as it once was?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
A better 10
Jamie
Guest
Spot on about giteau. His last years in wallaby colours are some to forget. There is this obsession with retaining players and although the I'm not denying that we are loosing more players now, a lot of these players are close to the end of their cycle. George smith still playing somewhere, if he had stuck around in Australia or playing for the wallabies would we have seen the likes of pocock or hooper rise in the wallaby or brumbies ranks? George gregan played a million games whilst Chris Whittaker sat on the bench. And when they both moved on there was nobody coming through. Giteau left and cooper got his chance. These guys have know they only have a limited time with their careers and they will when it's time for a change. Time for the next generation to step up.
piru
Guest
Depends what the fans want, do they want to see names or rugby? I'd rather watch 15 hungry no names than a team of stars worrying about their pay cheques.
Westie
Guest
Think cooper has already proved he's better than gits
Westie
Guest
Never happen.
Westie
Guest
Zero interest in any of those comps
felix
Guest
Agree Bakkies,those hookers mentioned have nothing on Bismarck or any other hooker in the world and I think the world leaders NZ would agree ;-)
dru
Roar Rookie
Liked that article.
dho
Guest
I suggested this squad in spiros thread you seemed to think it a decent team: 1. Slipper 2. Moore 3. Kepu 4. Simmons 5. Skelton 6. Fardy 7. Hooper 8. Higginbotham 9. Phipps (for lack of a better option) 10. Toomua 11. Folau 12. Kerevi 13. Kurindrani 14. Speight 15. JOC Replace Fardy with any of the new up and coming 6's. Eg. Butler. Replace higgers with Timani (if you wouldn't already). Melissa with Holmes (would leave things a little light on in reserve TH position). On reserve for genia by next year stirzaker coul. be ready and I really rate him as a prospect for no.1 HB in a year or so. Still a damn good team. I don't think the sky is falling in.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Probably but there's not a lot he can do about it.
RobC
Roar Guru
cheers Dru. However, im not optimistic about the Reds prospects. They have selected incorrectly, their base game too ambitious and their leadership transition was fubared. Coaching and mgmt is not up to par http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/03/25/un-locky-reds-the-super-rugby-trophy-may-have-to-weight/ Still enjoying watching them, when things work well. No sense in throwing the baby with the bath water! :)
scrumpoacher
Guest
Not bothered Please go to the Daily Mail or Planet Rugby comments section-your NH bias will be fully welcomed there. We aren't burying our heads in the sand but you are barking up the wrong tree if you think we are interested in supporting NH competitions. After years in the UK of playing, people ARE bothered with the national teams. Why oh why do you think a kid from Townsville or anywhere else will be supporting Racing or Leicester etc in years to come when we have our own established comps? Loads of people support English soccer teams because there wasn't a local national competition-now there is and people are flocking to it (much to my annoyance :-)) Test rugby will always be the pinnacle of the game. You probably love the idea of more SH players going to the AP T14 etc so more can be poached for the national teams. Cheers
dru
Roar Rookie
Rob, I love your optimism. Yes the game was better, Fris will settle. Gill was fab. Kotze is shaping up. Love Lachie at the moment. Unconvinced with Karmichael, but you never know. But honest. A weekend of no wins in the Aus conference, Toomua leading the injuries in a Red style debacle at Brumbies, that donkey Cheika winding up as public enemy no 1 in NZ. Ongoing despondency called Graham. And the inevitable QC future question. For me right now Aus rugby is at a nadir.
riddler
Guest
Batmobile!! :)