WALLABY FLY-HALF Quade Cooper is set to walk away from the Australian Rugby Union in fury over a contract offer from the governing body, reports say today.
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, 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.
