Quade Cooper

Quade Cooper
Full name Quade Santini Cooper[1][2][3][4]
Date of birth (1988-04-05) 5 April 1988
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)[5]
Weight 92.5 kg (14 st 8 lb)[5]
School Anglican Church Grammar School[6]
Springwood State High School[7]
Forest View High School[8]
Notable relative(s) Sean Maitland
Occupation(s) Rugby player
Rugby union career
Current status
Current team Toulon
Playing career
Position Fly-half / Inside Centre
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2007
2014-2015
2015-		 East Coast Aces
Brisbane City
Toulon		 3
3
11		 (5)
(39)
(5)
correct as of 27 February 2016.
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2007–15 Reds 105 [6] (770) [6]
Current local club Souths[6]
correct as of 14 June 2015.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2008–2015
2007
2005–06		 Australia
Australia U-19
Australia Schoolboys[5]		 58

9		 (154)
correct as of 27 September 2015.
Sevens national teams
Years Club / team Comps
2016- Australia 1 (27) 11 con 1 try
Cooper Playing for Brisbane City in the National Rugby Championship

Quade Santini Cooper (born 5 April 1988[6]) is a rugby union football player and boxer. Although a New Zealand citizen, he has represented Australia in rugby at international level. He currently plays for Toulon in the Top 14 competition in Francel. His preferred position is fly-half.

Early life

Cooper was born in Auckland,[9] New Zealand but moved with his family to Tokoroa at a young age. He attended Forest View High School,[8] before moving to Brisbane, Australia as a 13-year-old in 2001.[9][10]

In Brisbane, Cooper attended Springwood State High School[7] before winning a scholarship to Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), where he starred for the 1st XV rugby team in 2005 and 2006.[7] Churchie shared the Queensland GPS Premiership with Brisbane State High School in 2005.

Cooper was selected for the Australian Schoolboys in both 2005 and 2006. He played Fly-half and won nine schoolboy caps, which was the equal record at that time.

Career

Cooper joined the ARU-funded high performance program with the National Talent Squad, and signed with the Queensland Reds for the 2007 season.[6]

2007

Cooper made his debut for the Reds in Round 2 of the 2007 season in super 14, against the Crusaders at Jade Stadium, Christchurch. The Reds went on to lose the game 33-22.

He scored his first try in Super Rugby on the 3rd of March 2007, in Round 4, when he was given the role as starting five-eighth to play the Lions at Suncorp Stadium. Despite Cooper's performance, the Reds were downed at home, 20-26.

2008

2008 saw the Reds win 40–8 in a huge upset against the Bulls in Cooper's first start of the 2008 season. In November 2008 Cooper make his international debut against Italy, coming off the bench to scoring the winning try in a 30–20 win.[11]

2009

In 2009, Cooper featured in all of the Reds Super 14 games scoring 27 points (4 tries, 2 conversion goals and a penalty goal). He also featured in 8 Tests for the Wallabies playing at Inside Centre.

2010

Cooper was awarded the 2010 Super 14 Player of the Year Award.. He featured in the Wallabies' June Test Schedule, playing at Fly Half.

Playing at Fly Half in the Wallabies' 1st Tri-Nations Series Test (of 2010) against South Africa, Cooper was yellow-carded during the game for a dangerous tackle on Morne Steyn. Later he was suspended, for 2 Tests against New Zealand (for the 2 Bledisloe Cup clashes, over in Melbourne and Christchurch). However he return from suspension to face South Africa (the 2 Test clashes, over in Pretoria and Bloemfontein). He featured in the final Tri-Nations clash (for the Wallabies) against the All Blacks in a 22-23 loss at ANZ Stadium.

Cooper also took part in all of the Wallabies' Spring Tour games, playing at Fly Half.

2011

Cooper playing for Australia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

In 2011 Cooper signed with player agent Khoder Nasser.[12]

In 2015, the Queensland Reds won the inaugural Super Rugby title, with Cooper being instrumental all season in the team's performances. He was the team's primary goalkicker playing at flyhalf.

Cooper featured in all of the Wallabies' Tri-Nations games. When James O'Connor was suspended for the deciding Tri-Nations test at Suncorp Stadium against the All Blacks, Cooper took over the kicking duties in a 25-20 win over the All Blacks, securing Australia's first Tri-Nations since 2001 in the final edition of the competition.

Cooper was selected in the Wallabies squad for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand. Starting all games at flyhalf, Cooper was relentlessly boo-ed by New Zealand crowds because of a perceived feud between Cooper and New Zealand icon, Richie McCaw. Cooper was much derided after his performance in the RWC Semi-Final against New Zealand after the Wallabies were comprehensively beaten 20-6.

Cooper was selected at flyhalf by Robbie Deans for the Third-Place Playoff game at Eden Park against Wales. Cooper seemed to be past his performance in the Semi-Final after setting up the opening try, before succumbing to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that ruled him out of the opening rounds of the Reds' title defence in the 2012 Super Rugby season.

2012

In mid-2012, during his ACL Knee injury/recovery period, Cooper confirmed he had signed a three-year deal to stay with the Reds through to 2015.[13] Cooper's return from the extensive ACL knee injury he suffered in the 2011 World Cup came in Round 13 of the 2012 Super Rugby season against the Lions.

In Week 18 of the Super Rugby season, Cooper was yellow-carded and placed on-report for a high-tackle on former Reds and current Wallabies teammate, Berrick Barnes. Cooper was later given a one-week suspension, meaning he would miss the elimination-final against the Sharks, the Reds went on to lose the match 30–17.

In December 2012, Cooper agreed to a two-year contract extension with the ARU, allowing him to begin his three-year deal with the Reds beginning in 2013.[14]

2013

In 2013, Cooper featured in all of the QLD Reds' Super Rugby game during the Super Rugby season. But following the sacking of Deans as Wallabies coach and his replacement with former Reds coach Ewen McKenzie, Cooper made his first Wallabies appearance after a long absence in the first test of the 2013 Rugby Championship, coming off the bench playing the final 20 minutes in a losing effort against the All Blacks of his native New Zealand. He featured in the starting 15 at Fly-Half for the rest of the Rugby Championship.

Selected at Fly Half for the Wallabies clash against the All Blacks at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin (on 19 October), Cooper had a tremendous game; kicking 3 from 3 goal conversion attempts, 3 from 3 penalty attempts, kicking a drop goal, making 3 Try-Saving tackles, 2 Line-Breaks, and he set up a try for team-mate Adam Ashley-Cooper.

At the end of October, Cooper was named as vice-captain for the Cook Cup Test against England.[15] Under coach Ewen McKenzie has continued his test return to form and he had featured in all of the Wallabies' Europe Spring-Tour games.[16]

On 30 November, Cooper played in the Wallabies final Europe Spring-Tour game against Wales. He also became the 40th Wallaby to reach (and play) 50 Test games for the Wallabies.

2014

On 7 March 2014, Cooper broke Elton Flatley's record of 629 points, as well as the all-time Queensland Red's point-scoring record in the Reds' 43-33 win over the South African Super Rugby team; the Cheetahs at Suncorp Stadium.

On 5 May 2014, Cooper received his 100th Super Rugby cap for the Reds in a match against the Auckland Blues at Eden Park. On 17 May, he was ruled out for the rest of the Super Rugby season following a shoulder injury against the Melbourne Rebels in round 14. He later underwent shoulder and hip surgery.[17] After recovering from his injury and following his good form for Brisbane City, Cooper was named in the Wallabies' 32-man squad for the third Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium.[18]

2015

On 21 April 2015, it was announced Cooper had committed to a two-year deal with French Top 14 side Toulon, effective after the World Cup, however this was never confirmed by Cooper or his party and speculation continued long after that he would potentially remain at the Queensland Reds.[19] And in July 2015 it was revealed that Cooper had turned down the deal and re-committed to the ARU in order to be part of the Rio 2016 sevens set-up.[20]

On November 3, Cooper was officially 'unveiled' to the media as an official member of the RC Toulon roster for the 2015-16 season. Cooper apologised to the Toulon fanbase for "extended negotiations", which resulted in a renegotiated contract allowing Cooper to be released if called to the Australian Sevens setup in a bid to play in the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. Cooper has joined fellow (former) Wallaby teammates Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell, James O'Connor and Sales Ma'afu at the French club. Coincidentally, Toulon was close friend, Sonny Bill Williams' first rugby union club.

Cooper made his debut days after being unveiled, against Montpellier in a routing which he had a hand in multiple tries, including setting up former test teammate Lachie Turner.

2016

In January Cooper, along with former All Black Ma'a Nonu, was criticised in the French Press by Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal, describing the performances of Cooper as compared to former England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson as 'going from foie gras to pâté'. Following Boudjellal's criticism, Cooper later played arguably his best game for Toulon in their lucky win in the European Champions Cup match against Wasps at Stade Mayol.

It was confirmed on 22 January 2016 that Cooper would be joining the Australian 7s set-up for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, commencing with the Sydney leg of the IRB Sevens. Cooper scored his first try for the Australian sevens team on 6 March 2016 in the team's 36-7 win against England.[21]

Boxing

In November 2012, Cooper announced he would box on the undercard of friend Sonny Bill Williams' bout on 8 February 2013. He fought as a cruiserweight[22] against Muay Thai veteran Barry Dunnett, winning by first round knockout.[23]

On 29 January 2014, Cooper fought 40-year-old Warren Tresidder on the undercard of the Anthony Mundine bout in Brisbane.[24] Tresidder had 25 years of cage fighting experience at the time. Cooper went on to win with a 4th round TKO.[25]

On 31 January 2015, Cooper was due fight on the undercard of Sonny Bill Williams's bout against Chauncy Welliver. However, he was later forced to pull out.[26]

2011 World Cup

Cooper playing for Australia against New Zealand at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Cooper's impressive form showed no sign of abating and he was named in the Wallabies 30-man squad for the 2011 World Cup. However, once in the tournament, Cooper failed to find the level of form previously showcased for the Reds and during the Tri-Nations for the Wallabies. With the New Zealand public on his back, Cooper struggled in their semi-final against the All Blacks nudging the kick-off straight into touch.

However, in the bronze final against Wales at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Cooper showed early signs of being back to his mercurial best playing at a quick tempo and showcasing his range of skills setting up the opening try to Berrick Barnes. But in the 20th minute of the game, he suffered a knee injury which brought an abrupt end to his game. In the post-match press conference, coach Robbie Deans confirmed that he believed the injury to have been related to Cooper's anterior cruciate ligament, which made him miss the first 12 weeks of the 2012 Super Rugby season.

Possible change to rugby league

Cooper grew up playing rugby league with Shaun Kenny-Dowall and even came close to joining the NRL's Melbourne Storm in 2008.[27] In August 2010 Cooper was rumoured to be considering a switch to rugby league and playing for the Parramatta Eels in the 2011 NRL season. This would have meant Cooper sacrificing his Wallabies' position.[28] A figure of $850,000 was speculated,[29] and Parramatta reportedly offered Cooper $1.5 million over three years.[30] The issue was resolved in September when Cooper signed a one-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union.[30] He said, even though he found the Parramatta offer flattering, he still saw his future in rugby union. For 2011 he wanted to continue with the Reds, and hoped to continue with the Wallabies and represent Australia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.[30]

Personal life

Cooper is the cousin of Scotland International player and 2013 British & Irish Lion Sean Maitland.[31] Cooper is currently in a relationship with Australian model Laura Dundovic.[32][33]

Controversies

Cooper in 2011

In December 2009 Cooper was charged by police with burglary after allegedly taking two laptops from a residence on the Gold Coast.[34] The charges were withdrawn after "completion of a justice mediation process with the complainants".[35]

In August 2011, Cooper was accused of deliberately kneeing Richie McCaw in the face[36] at the 2011 Tri Nations test, but at the subsequent SANZAR judicial hearing in Brisbane the charge was dismissed.[37]

In September, Cooper tweeted infamous comments regarding his thoughts on the Wallabies set-up, which included criticising the defensive style-of-play and lack of player input under coach Robbie Deans, inadequate training and recovery facilities, and a "toxic environment". He also claimed he could not and would not in future play for the Wallabies under those conditions. As a result of his public outburst, Cooper was fined a record $60,000 (of which $20,000 was a 2-year suspended sentence) and given a suspended three-match Wallabies ban. It was thought that the ongoing saga would lead to Cooper abandoning Australian rugby; however, he ended up recommitting to the Reds and ARU.[38]

In May 2016, Cooper stated that he had been dumped from the Australian Sevens team for the Olympic Games because he did not hold Australian citizenship. It was revealed that he had been travelling on a New Zealand passport while playing internationally for Australia.[39]

Career highlights

Boxing

Statistics
Rated at Cruiserweight
Nationality  Australia
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 2
Wins 2
Wins by KO 1

Professional boxing

2 Wins (1 knockouts), 0 Losses, 0 Draws[41]
Res. Record Opponent Method Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Win 2-0Australia Warren Tresidder TKO (4) 2014-01-29 Australia Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland Fought before 2014 Super Rugby season.[42]
Win 1-0Australia Barry Dunnett KO (1) 2013-02-08 Australia Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland Cooper's professional debut

References

  1. ↑ "Quade Cooper". ESPN. ESPN. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Morton, Jim. "Queensland Reds playmakers back in synch". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Australia’s Quade Cooper". The Sports Eagle. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  4. ↑ Maharaj, Rajiv. "Quade Cooper can exorcise his demons in Super Rugby play-offs". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "Quade Cooper". Wallabies Profile. Australian Rugby Union. 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 QRU (2010). "Quade Cooper". Queenlands Reds profile. Queensland Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 2010-01-28. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
  7. 1 2 3 Lutton, Phil (17 April 2010). "Quade wades into sport scholarships debate". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 12 January 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  8. 1 2 "Quade Cooper still recalls the old days". Daily Telegraph. News. 16 September 2011. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Where are you from?". Twitter. 2 August 2012. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  10. ↑ Benedict, Luke (13 October 2011). "Pantomime villain Cooper ready for volatile reception in Australia's clash with New Zealand". Daily Telegraph. UK. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  11. ↑ "Australia rescued by debutant Quade Cooper in Italy win". Daily Telegraph. UK. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "Rugby faces agent of change". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  13. ↑ Tucker, Jim. (2012-06-10) Quade Cooper finally declares his long-term future is with Queensland Reds. The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  14. ↑ Cooper agrees to new two-year deal - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  15. ↑ http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-news/speechless-quade-cooper-stunned-vice-captaincy-call-5666572 Speechless Quade Cooper stunned by vice-captaincy call
  16. ↑ http://www.3news.co.nz/Wallabies-break-Welsh-hearts-in-30-26-victory/tabid/415/articleID/323531/Default.aspx Wallabies break Welsh hearts in 30-26 victory
  17. ↑ Jim Morton (20 May 2014). "Cooper ruled out for the season". The Roar. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  18. ↑ Ben Horne (10 October 2014). "Quade Cooper back in Wallabies side for Bledisloe Cup clash with New Zealand All Blacks". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "Wallabies and Reds star fly-half Quade Cooper set to join Toulon". ESPN Scrum. 21 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "Quade Cooper turns down Toulon for Australia's Olympic Sevens campaign". The Guardian. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "World Rugby Sevens: Quade Cooper silences doubters with try in Las Vegas". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). 6 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  22. ↑ "Cooper announces his new club is ... fight club". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. 26 November 2012.
  23. ↑ "Cooper to face Muay Thai veteran in pro boxing debut". Radio New Zealand. January 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  24. ↑ "Jones out, but Mundine fight night will go ahead". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. AAP. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  25. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-30/mundine2c-cooper-notch-brisbane-wins/5226702 Anthony Mundine, Quade Cooper win fights at Brisbane Entertainment Centre
  26. ↑ "Quade Cooper considering boxing switch". ESPN. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  27. ↑ Walter, Brad (21 November 2012). "Roosters can't fit Cooper in until 2014". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  28. ↑ Badel, Peter; Hamilton, Andrew (13 August 2010). "Quade Cooper in secret talks with Parramatta Eels". Daily Telegraph. News. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  29. ↑ Walter, Brad (16 August 2010). "Eels to offer record $850,000 for Cooper". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax.
  30. 1 2 3 "Quade Cooper commits to rugby". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. 12 September 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  31. ↑ "Super Cooper takes on Crusading cousin". 4 July 2011.
  32. ↑ "Laura Dundovic bids mum a sad farewell as she flies to France to be with Quade Cooper". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  33. ↑ "Beauty queens Laura Dundovic and Erin Holland spend last beach days together: ‘Don’t leave us!’". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  34. ↑ "Quade Cooper on sleeping pills before burglary". Australian. News. 20 August 2010.
  35. ↑ "Burglary charge against Quade Cooper dropped". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. 16 July 2010.
  36. ↑ "Cooper knee was deliberate – Henry". New Zealand: One Sport. 29 August 2011.
  37. ↑ Hinton, Marc (28 August 2011). "Cooper's citing for kneeing McCaw dismissed ...". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  38. ↑ "Flyhalf Cooper signs deal to stay with Wallabies". Star. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  39. ↑ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11635293
  40. ↑
  41. ↑ "Sonny Bill Williams - Boxer". Boxrec. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  42. ↑ http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/rugby/quade-cooper-returns-to-training-early-as-reds-ramp-up-preparations-for-super-rugby-season/story-fnii0lp2-1226796551602 Quade Cooper returns to training early as Reds ramp up preparations for Super Rugby season

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