Wallabies star Quade Cooper became the first World Cup player to report for duty at European champions Toulon on Tuesday, having negotiated a special contract clause so he can play in the Olympics next year.
The 27-year-old playmaker apologised to Toulon fans for the extended negotiations that even last week appeared compromised because of doubts about his international future.
“It has been a drawn-out process and I apologise for that,” Cooper told a press conference alongside Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal.
Australia’s selection rules only allow foreign-based players to be chosen if they have 60 caps. Cooper has 58 but made only one World Cup appearance because of the hot form of Bernard Foley.
Cooper said the first version of his Toulon contract did not mention being freed for national games, but it was renegotiated,. Boudjellal said, and “if he (Cooper) is called he will be immediately freed.”
Cooper said the talks with Boudjellal had focused on allowing him to go to the Olympics in Rio next August when sevens rugby will be played for the first time. “He knew how excited I was about coming to Toulon and representing my country at the Olympic Games.”
The code-hopping star thanked Toulon and the Australian Rugby Union for the deal.
“So for me the immediate goal is to get out and play well for Toulon. But I am just happy and grateful for the opportunity to go to an Olympic Games which would not have been possible prior to this. Every kid dreams of going to the Olympics.”
He may also have to be freed for some pre-Olympic sevens tournaments.
Cooper, who moves from the Queensland Reds, will join Australian World Cup finalists Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell in the three-time European Cup winners’ multi-national squad.
Ma’a Nonu, a try-scorer for the All Black side that beat Australia in Saturday’s final, will arrive at the French club at the end of November, according to the Toulon president.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Isn't O'Conner back? Didn't they always say he was gone for a year? Didn't Toulon announce cooper was signed for 3 years?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He's not one of the weakest defenders in world rugby. Statistically he has been one of the best defending 10s in super rugby for about 3 seasons.
RobC
Roar Guru
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15R_1Ya4nEM
the french
Roar Rookie
Ah ah Marto good one. Don't compare French rugby and Bernard Laporte though, he is the first one to say the top 14 is a boring league and the standard is poor. As for Foley, he talked about him more up to the quarters and less after makong jokes that he likes to pick underdogs and make them champions... fair to say that Foley was a bit quieter passed the quarters.
BeastieBoy
Guest
No No No No NOOOO.
RobC
Roar Guru
Cool. Im going to buy a TV package just to watch QC & Co play. Should be good fun. Assuming he keeps fit.
cuw
Guest
according to Toulon owner, their wage bill is only Euro 8.6mio, whihc is well inside the Euro 10 mio cap. one of the easiest methods to pay a lot to players is to create an IMAGE MARKETING COMPANY and sign the players as MODELS. then there is also royalties from merchandise - t shirts, caps, tea cups, posters, rubber models, whatnot :) then the living arrangements (which almost all businesses do) house, car petrol, utilities, company phone, air tickets... there is value in the salary. there is also value in the savings on day-to-day expenses.
cuw
Guest
have u seen serevi play?? he was a wonderful tackler. yes maybe u will not knock someone out with a front on tackle like jerry collins BUT in 7s u MUST get a hold of the player running at u even if u dont bring him down. and contrary to popular belief, some of the guys in 7s are very big and agile. have a look at the boks and fijians - they are massive. some of the all blacks were also big units last year - Bryce Heem is 6'4" 100kg, ben lam is 6'4" 105kg frank halai was 6'5" 110kg. new skipper scott curry is 6'4" 100kg and ofcourse sonny bill is 6'5" 105kg. if a team has to committ 3 guys to tackle one of these , then obviously there is lot of space in the park. :) btw, this is the NZ squad. and to see that BOKs have announced a 34 man squad LOL Dylan Collier (Waikato) Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty) Sam Dickson (Canterbury) DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau) Gillies Kaka (Hawke’s Bay) Akira Ioane (Auckland) Rieko Ioane (Auckland) Ben Lam (Auckland) Liam Messam (Waikato) Tim Mikkelson (Waikato) Ardie Savea (Wellington) Sherwin Stowers (Counties Manukau) Sam Vaka (Counties Manukau) Beaudein Waaka (Taranaki) Joe Webber (Waikato) Sonny Bill Williams* (Counties Manukau)
cuw
Guest
not in new zealand or fiji ranks :) more than tackling cooper's inability to be disciplined will be an issue in 7s. the refs are very strict dishing out cards. becoz the game is only 14 (or 20) minutes there are no 2nd chances. for example bryce heem was carded in one of the finals and nz lost not just that leg but also their hold on the 7s cup. was dropped after that match and will move to europe.
marto
Guest
No wonder french rugby is rubbish if he was extremely impressed with Foley..Is it because they share the same name??
William Tell
Guest
Ah - so you did check, just failed to mention the fact, then? And the leg-trip thing? That would have been researched as well - or just as well? My point is that there is a mindless reflex from some commentators whenever Cooper is mentioned - his mistakes are supposedly fatal flaws which, when performed by others, such as Foley, are absolutely ignored. I'm just a mug punter, you are creditd as a "guru" - so I guess you can expect some ill-informed commentary from me. I'm looking for a point of difference here - just what are your credentials?
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Theres plenty of players on the sevens circuit that make Cooper look like Schalk Burger on defence KPM!
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
I think the opposition might make an exception if they know there's a turnstile like Cooper to run through.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
:-) I suppose it depends on the definition of tackling then.
the french
Roar Rookie
Just to be clear that the only reason why Cooper has been signed by Toulon is that "they dont have a fly half for the next 10 games". Ditto Bernard Laporte in his radio show on Monday. Michalak and Giteau are out. That leaves them with Willie Du Plessis and Anthony Belleau who are second strings in Laporte's mind. Halfpenny is also injured and whilst he s a full back he could play half. Throughout the world cup Laporte was extremely impressed with Foley. If i was Cooper i would make sure that i perform in those next 10 games to secure my future at Toulon as next year he could be sent packing quick smart the same way O Connor was. In addition, Diego Dominguez, former Italy and Argentina fly half will be starting as new coach, it is Laporte s last season at the club, and wont take any prisonners in trying to fill La0porte s shoes. If QC tries too hard as he often does then he s setting himself up for failure.
the french
Roar Rookie
Yep and Stirzaker 9 to take over from Genia when it s time to go.
Scot Free
Guest
I'm likely to watch Toulon matches now. Super Rugby is losing too many stars to the French.
Bakkies
Guest
'Do they have a salary cap at all in France?? It just seems there is so much money over there that the egotists would rather buy their championship rather than nurture one through the club and its local support. It really is mind-boggling how France could let themselves be ruled by the dollar/euro/franc instead of good, old fashioned, gut-wrenching hard work with a nursery of local youngsters, keen to show their capability.' I think it's over €10 million probably at €12 million now. Toulon do produce players most of them go to other clubs than come back. Mignoni is an example. Last time they had a predominately local squad they were bottom of Pro D2. Giteau and Mitchell had their pay suspended while away on test duty for several months. I wonder if Cooper has the same agreement.
taylorman
Roar Guru
I dunno Shane, this particular Sevens tournament isn't your normal Sevens. This will be a level above what's been around now and Oz aren't traditionally strong in the sport anyway do will be asked to defend a lot. Agree there's not a lot of tackling but the ones that need to be made are critical. Dunno, just doesn't look a Sevens player to me.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Settle down William, no need for that. Cooper is not technically a very good tackler and Sevens demands a high level of accurate text book first time tackling. I asked if he'd played Sevens for Oz before. I don't recall it and can't find it anywhere. What are his credentials?