Rugby
Cooper quits Wallabies - report
2012-11-19 10:53
Sydney - Wallaby flyhalf Quade Cooper is set
to walk away from the Australian Rugby Union in fury over a contract
offer from the governing body, reports said on Monday.
Television
and newspaper reports said that Cooper was upset after only being
offered match payments by the ARU, as opposed to an annual sum as part
of his contract.
Cooper led the Queensland Reds to the 2011 Super
Rugby title and has been linked in the past with a switch of codes to
Australia's National Rugby League, but received one of the ARU's biggest
contracts a year ago.
The reports came after Cooper, 24, was hit with the biggest fine in Australian rugby history.
He
made headlines in September when he lashed out on social media at a
"toxic" environment within the national squad and the defensive style of
Wallabies' coach Robbie Deans, further stoking speculation that he
would defect to rugby league.
The outspoken fly-half also said he did not feel he could play for Australia at the time.
Last
month Cooper was fined Aus$40 000 ($41 000), plus a further Aus$20 000
suspended for two years, and given a suspended three-match ban for the
comments.
After a code of conduct hearing he apologised for his behaviour, which he admitted fell below Wallabies standards.
Despite
his reported fall-out with the ARU Queensland Reds officials said they
were still confident their star playmaker would honour his three-year
contract with them.