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Man at Work

Cooper set to sign new Aussie deal

Fly-half Quade Cooper is expected to end his stand-off with the Australian Rugby Union by signing a new contract.

QUADE COOPER AND the Australian Rugby Union have finally resolved their differences and the outspoken Wallaby playmaker is set to sign a new multi-year deal, according to reports.

The sidelined Wallaby fly-half is expected to appear at a news conference in Brisbane tomorrow to announce an end to the re-signing saga which has been rolling on for six months, Australian Associated Press said.

Cooper struck a new three-year deal with the Queensland Reds in June but only now is it set to be ratified, although the length of the contract remains clouded, AAP said.

The Reds have reportedly helped in the negotiation process that was on the brink of collapse late last month after the ARU offered a new incentive-based deal.

At the time, Cooper said he would not accept such a deal while his manager, Khoder Nasser, blamed the ARU for a “total communication breakdown”.

It was the 38-Test back’s criticism of the Wallabies’ “toxic” culture and the state of the code which resulted in the ARU’s downgraded offer after he failed to sign a more significant deal tabled mid-year.

- © AFP, 2012

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