Quade Cooper has pulled out of his big-money switch to France and is poised to become the face of the Australian Sevens team’s charge to the Rio Olympics.
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The Australian Rugby Union is set to confirm the Wallabies five-eighth has signed a four-year deal to remain in the country, opting out of his lucrative contract with European glamour club Toulon.
An announcement was to be made on Monday in Sydney but a Fairfax Media report over the weekend revealed the 27-year-old has decided to stay put and may yet find his way back to the Queensland Reds in 2017, after the club severed ties with him last month in acrimonious circumstances.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was giving nothing away on Sunday at Brisbane Airport, as the team departed following the miracle 24-20 win over South Africa in the Rugby Championship opener on Saturday night.
But Cheika has been a huge figure in the ARU’s talks with Cooper and his manager, Khoder Nasser, and has repeatedly underlined the importance of keeping the enigmatic star in Australian rugby.
“I haven’t been on top of it, I’ll be honest with you, this week, at all,” Cheika told reporters.
“Obviously you can see by him getting the first selection (at flyhalf) what we think about him as a player.
“With us helping him get to where he wants to go and become an even better player, we’re still yet to see the best of Quade Cooper.”
Cooper will reportedly devote all of next year to the Sevens program, and then return to Super Rugby in 2017 – most likely with the Reds, despite the manner of his departure and the dramatic breakdown in talks between Nasser and QRU chief Jim Carmichael.
It is not clear how Cooper has negotiated his exit with Toulon, but he may have paid the six-figure release fee from his own pocket given the ARU’s previous reticence towards players who renege on deals.
Cooper had an indifferent night against the Springboks but could still retain the No.10 jersey for the forthcoming Test against Argentina in Mendoza, despite Matt Toomau’s strong performance off the bench and the fact Bernard Foley is yet to be used.
But tweaks will need to be made to the playmaking department with Will Genia (knee) sidelined until the Bledisloe Cup series.
Cheika said Cooper did a “pretty nice job” but may yet shuffle his deck with the likes of Toomua, Matt Giteau and Kurtley Beale at his disposal, and halfback Nic White coming into the squad to provide competition for Nick Phipps.
“I don’t know if we delivered the platform consistently enough for Quade to get on the front foot,” Cheika said.
“Whereas Toomua is a sort of bulkier player who will almost take it on as a third or fourth back-rower as well as a playmaker.
“That’s the different profile the guys have.
“We’ve got good options there, we’ll have a look at it.”
Bakkies
Guest
He has confirmed that the contract has been signed and lodged to the LNR which makes sense as pre season games to prepare for the new season are about to commence. Clubs in France also get audited properly unlike the shoddy ARU handling of the Tarts 'salary cap.'
Bakkies
Guest
Cooper would have to resign by giving notice to Toulon. That's the requirement in France.
Bakkies
Guest
Well Toulon are saying that there is one and has been registered. In France a contract doesn't exist if the paperwork isn't evident. Of course the ARU would say that to defend their 'handywork.'
John Rugby
Guest
I'm not going to say this isn't accurate. However, neither the ARU nor Quade have confirmed, which means that at this point this is purely a rumour. All we actually know at this point is that Queensland threw a little tantrum and there's photos of Quade in a Toulon guernsey. Of course the Toulon owner has stepped into typically shoot his mouth, but hasn't actually confirmed anything. The last time a rumour got really run with off of SMH's Rugbyheaven, it resulted in Ewen McKenzie stepping down as coach of Australia on the edge of a full implosion. So let's have a second of introspection, maybe wait for a fact?
daniel
Guest
Collusion... isn't that for anti-competitive behaviour (ie cartel forming). The claim that the ARU knowingly induced a player to break his contract when the player is playing for them, and has repeatedly stated that his next contract is not finalised, is tenuous at best. Boudjallel also has a history of far worse grubby tactics. I'm fairly sure this would be raised in court as comment on the contracting strategy of Toulon.
irb
Guest
you dont consider the missed kick in front of goal a mistake?
daniel
Guest
The point is moral Bakkies. It's rich for Boudjallel to cry foul when he has a history of doing far worse himself
daniel
Guest
Easy red... not sure we need to get all racist about this. Completely agree with your point on the contract. I'd also point out that QC has always stated that the contract with Toulon is not final. Seems to me Boudjallel had able warning that QC may nor consider this written in stone.... unlike what the Bulldogs thought with SBW
Chivas
Guest
Sound logic does not require comparison to Foley. if you think about most Olympians and the money they earn I suggest Foley is on a far better wicket than them regarding money. I just question whether you truly have any idea in respect to this matter. I certainly don't, but your logic which you see so proud of appears awfully weak. People make different decisions for different reasons is all. What is important to you may not be important to me and vice versa. Why my decision is useful to explain yours is beyond me. Anyway, this has been discussed to death. The money doesn't mean as much to Wuade as it does to Foley. Excellent. Whether or not that is true is definitely debatable imo, consequently your logic appears to be without a firm premise other than I think so based on what they have earned to date so it could be true... :-)
Bakkies
Guest
Yes and the Bulldogs were compensated for it and I suspect there was more to it as Sonny Bill was threatened with legal action from the NRL.
Bakkies
Guest
They've have approached a contracted Toulon player without seeking permission to do so and from Toulon's viewpoint it doesn't look like the ARU has seeked a release or Cooper has resigned with a notice period. The legal suit is in regards to collusion and if it does occur will be lodged in France. We don't know what Quade has agreed to in his contract. It looks like he was to be part of promoting the club for this coming season and is backing out of his commitments there.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
If Toulon don't want people walking out on contracts they need to stop putting player release clauses in the contract. Take a leaf out of the NBA's contracting process and put in player opt-out clauses after 12 months. It has been widely reported that QC needed to pay a release fee to Toulon - that would be a condition of the clause, once paid the clause is activated and Boudjallel the bloviating windbag has no leg to stand on. Legal action - who is he kidding, he's French, he'll make a whole lot of tough threats and at the first sign of resistance or fight he'll surrender.
Bakkies
Guest
It was an official contract was signed and lodged. Cooper is now registered to two unions.
Bakkies
Guest
Con Foley, Ed Jenkins
Bakkies
Guest
7s per the IRB is Rugby
daniel
Guest
... and what exactly would be his legal position? That the ARU are obliged to honor a Contract they are not involved in.... have never seen.... and is located in France... While negotiating a contract in Aus???? Good luck with that
daniel
Guest
Also what exactly is his legal position.... that the ARU has a legal obligation to honor a Contract they are not involved in..... that they've never seen.... and that is in France... when they negotiate I'm Australia. Unless Coopers management is an idiot the damages for backing out will be limited by a break clause (it seems to 120k euro). It's not illegal to break contracts.
daniel
Guest
Strange though... didn't Toulon sign SBW halfway through the NRL season?
Bakkies
Guest
It doesn't look like he has yet. If a law suit goes against the ARU I would expect Quade to cough up. Legal fees will be high. Mundine better book him some fights. The Brumbies asked for compensation when Jake White left. Jake coughed up rather than the Sharks.
Bakkies
Guest
Boudjallel is threatening to sue the ARU for millions as a contract has been signed, fronted season ticket campaigns, the contract is registered and passed on other flyhalfs so he would be first choice