Quade Cooper

At 36 years old, Quade Cooper has this physical status:

Quade Santini Cooper (born 5 April 1988) is a professional rugby union player and occasional boxer.

Although a New Zealand citizen, he has represented Australia in rugby at international level.

He is a former player for the Queensland Reds and the Melbourne Rebels in the Super Rugby competition in Australia.

His preferred position is fly-half.

Early life

Quade Santini Cooper was born in Auckland, New Zealand on 5 April 1988. He has three sisters, Shavarn, Georgie, and Pania and two brothers, Reuben and Moses. As a one-year-old Cooper moved to Tokoroa and was raised by his mother and step-father, Ruhia and David Jones. He attended Forest View High School before moving to Brisbane, Australia in 2001, at 13-years-old. In Brisbane, Cooper attended Rochedale State High School and Springwood State High School before being awarded a scholarship to Anglican Church Grammar School, where he excelled for their first-XV rugby union team from 2005 till 2006. In the first year of his ascendance, his team tied for the Queensland GPS Premiership with Brisbane State High School in 2005.

Cooper played in all the age-group rugby union and league sides in Waikato. He toured the United Kingdom as a first five-eighth or fullback with the Australian Schoolboys in 2005, alongside David Pocock and Lachie Turner. He rejoined the side in 2006, furthering his total caps to nine, which was the then equal schoolboy record. He also forced his way into the Reds' side as a teenager in 2006. Cooper was selected as a replacement against Japan at the National Stadium, Tokyo in November, winning 29–22.

Personal life

Cooper is the cousin of Scotland international player and 2013 British & Irish Lion Sean Maitland and is the cousin of Cheyenne Campbell. Cooper has previously been in high-profile relationships, most notably Stephanie Rice and recently Laura Dundovic.

In May 2016, Cooper stated that he had been dropped from the Australian Sevens team ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games as he was not an Australian citizen, a requirement set by the International Olympic Committee. He had previously been travelling on a New Zealand passport while playing internationally for Australia.

In July 2021, Cooper complained that he was still unable to become an Australian citizen despite living in the country since the age of thirteen. On 14 September 2021, after Cooper had rejoined the Wallabies and helped win a 2021 Rugby Championship match against the Springboks, Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced that greater flexibility for residency requirements for citizenship would in future be allowed for the "most highly distinguished prospective Australians" due to their "unique work and travel demands", although he didn't mention Cooper explicitly. Cooper subsequently passed the Australian citizenship test on 3 December 2021 and was officially granted Australian citizenship on 24 February 2022.

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Rugby union career

Cooper joined the ARU-funded high-performance programme with the national talent team and signed with the Queensland Reds in 2007 for the 2007 Super 14 season. Cooper, 18, made his debut for the Reds in Round 2 of the competition against the Crusaders at Jade Stadium in Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand. The Reds went on to lose the game by eleven points. Sadly, the franchise came in last place, winning only two out of 13 games. After an 89-point loss to the Bulls, head coach Eddie Jones resigned. Cooper was later revealed that it would be the first five-eighth for one of Queensland's two clubs, the East Coast Aces, in the inaugural Australian Rugby Championship. Former Samoa coach John Boe and Australian lock Garrick Morgan led the team.

Early 2008, it was announced that the New Zealand Rugby Union exhibited an interest and had held preliminary talks with Cooper's leadership team after he came off contract with Queensland. According to reports, the Hurricanes were in line for his signature, with some indicating a potential transfer to rugby league. Cooper was involved in a thrilling five-tries-to-one victory over the Bulls, winning by a dramatic surprise five-tries-to-one victory. Head coach Phil Mooney made six changes to the team that started against the Stormers this week, earning Cooper's first appearance of the 2008 season. After a chip kick to Morgan Turinui in the 72nd minute, Cooper earned their first bonus-point victory in four years.

After coach Brian Melrose announced the team's selection for the inaugural 2008 IRB Junior World Championships in June, Cooper was one of seven players selected in the Australian national under-20 team. Cooper was impressed, finishing third in the majority conversions converted behind Francois Brummer and Trent Renata of New Zealand. Australia's youngest and heaviest squad in the tournament. Cooper was later chosen for Australia in their 2008 end-of-year tour campaign after receiving age-grade accolades. As a replacement back, he made his international test debut against Italy. With eight minutes remaining, Cooper scored a late attempt to help Australia beat Italy in Padova. He made two more replacement appearances against France and Wales before playing in the historic match against the Barbarian F.C. At Wembley Stadium. It was the centennial of Australia's winning the rugby gold medal at the 1908 London Olympics. Cooper was involved in a touchline dispute between Federico Pucciariello and Federico Pucciariello after tussling made it into the advertising boards and was required to be separated by colleagues and verbally warned by referee Chris White.

In 2009, national Rugby League clubs and NZRU officials were unable to sign Cooper. As they faced a potential loss of New Zealand international first five-eighth Dan Carter, the New Zealand Rugby Union expressed interest in lureing him back to New Zealand. Cooper has since re-signed with Australia and the Reds. Cooper was one of just four players and the only backline player to play in all 13 games during the Reds 2009 Super 14 season, after repeating another near the bottom of the table finish. He had four attempts, second only to Digby Ioane among the team's top try-scorers. The Reds lost their seventh match to the Highlanders, their seventh loss in 23 visits to New Zealand since 1999.

During the final test against Italy in Melbourne during the 2009 June series, Cooper got his first test start by playing at second five-eighth. He went on to appear eight times for Australia, starting all four tests on the Grand Slam tour from the second place. After a victory over Wales at Millennium Stadium, Cooper stood out on tour and received a round of applause from former Welsh great Barry John.

Cooper was yellow-carded during the game against South Africa playing at fly-half. Morne Steyn was ruled out of the play. He was banned from two Tests against New Zealand later today, during two Tests against New Zealand in Melbourne and Christchurch, the Bledisloe Cup clashes. In Pretoria and Bloemfontein, he came from suspension to face South Africa. In a 22–23 loss at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, he appeared in the final Tri-Nations clash against the All Blacks. Cooper appeared in all of the Wallabies' Spring Tour games, starting at flyhalf.

Cooper signed player agent Khoder Nasser in 2011. The Queensland Reds took the inaugural Super Rugby championship in 2011, with Cooper prominently and kicking the majority of their goals.

Cooper appeared in all of the Wallabies' Tri-Nations tournaments. In a 25-20 victory, James O'Connor was suspended from the deciding Tri-Nations test against the All Blacks, Cooper took over the kicking duties, securing Australia's first Tri-Nations title since 2001.

Cooper was selected for the Wallabies for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Cooper was booed by New Zealand crowds in the first game of the flyhalf because he had earlier used his knee to smash the face of New Zealand captain Richie McCaw. Robbie Deans, a coach, grew up with the judiciary, learned about it. According to New Zealand media and coach, the boy was able to be released. Cooper was criticized by New Zealand media and audiences and had a lackluster sequence, according to a more objective analysis.

At Eden Park against Wales, Cooper was selected for a third-place playoff. Cooper started out well in the first try before succumbing to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that later barred him from the Reds' championship team in the 2012 Super Rugby season.

Cooper signed a three-year contract to remain with the Reds through to 2015. Cooper recovered from the knee injury in mid-2012 when he was injured.

Cooper was yellow-carded and put on alert for a high tackle against former Reds and current Wallabies teammate Berrick Barnes in Round 18. Cooper was later banned for a week, causing him to miss the Sharks' elimination final, which he lost 17-30.

Cooper decided to a two-year contract extension with the ARU in December 2012.

Cooper appeared in all of the Reds' Super Rugby tournaments in 2013. Cooper came off the bench for the final 20 minutes against the All Blacks after being dismissed as Wallabies coach and his replacement by former Reds coach Ewen McKenzie. For the remainder of the Rugby Championship, he appeared in the starting lineup at the flyhalf.

Cooper six goals from six attempts, an additional drop goal, three try-saving tackles, two line-breaks, and two line-breaks were all set up in the Wallabies' match against the All Blacks at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on October 19th, as well as setting up a try for teammate Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Cooper was named vice-captain for the Cook Cup test against England at the end of October. He appeared in all of the Wallabies' European fall tour games under coach Ewen McKenzie.

Cooper set a record of 629 points in the Reds' 43-33 victory over Cheetahs in South Africa, as well as the all-time Queensland Red's point-scoring record.

Cooper earned his 100th Super Rugby cap for the Reds on May 5th in a match against the Auckland Blues at Eden Park. Following a shoulder injury against the Melbourne Rebels in round 14, he was out for the remainder of the Super Rugby season on May 17. He underwent shoulder and hip surgery later this year. Cooper was selected in the Wallabies' 32-man squad for the third Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium after recovering from his injury.

Cooper had reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with Toulon, France's top 14 team. Cooper had renounced the offer and re-committed to the ARU in July 2015 in order to be a member of the Rio 2016 sevens team.

Cooper was unveiled' to the media on Friday as a member of the RC Toulon roster for the 2015–16 season. Cooper apologised to the Toulon fanbase for his "prolonged talks" allowing him to be released if called on to the Australian Sevens team for the Olympics. Cooper joined Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell, James O'Connor, and Sales Ma'afu at the French club. Cooper helped with multiple attempts against Montpellier on his debut.

Cooper was a member of the Australian 7s squad in the run-up to the 2016 Olympic Games, beginning with the Sydney leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series. In Australia's 36-7 victory over England on 6 March 2016, Cooper scored his first sevens in sevens. However, Cooper was later dropped from the squad because he did not have an Australian passport at the time, as citizenship of a nation is required to represent the country in an Olympics.

After a brief time away playing club rugby for Toulon and Rugby sevens for Australia in 2016, Cooper returned to the Queensland Reds for the 2017 Super Rugby season. He appeared in twelve of the fifteen 2017 Super Rugby games and scored seventy four points, playing as a first choice fly-half. Cooper was chosen for the Wallabies squad for the June tests against Fiji, Scotland, and Italy, with Bernard Foley preferred in the starting lineup. Cooper's last appearance in a test jersey until 2021 would be his last appearance in a test jersey until 2021, instead of being selected by Cheika for the 2017 Spring Tour, a free-flowing style of football that stunned the Wallabies by surprise.

Cooper was suspended by the Reds in late 2017 before the 2018 season began. Brad Thorn, the franchise's fifth-choice fly-half, told Cooper that "he was no longer part of his plans" for the franchise and would not be needed at training. Cooper was expected to play club rugby for the new club Souths, according to them. The Reds, under Thorn, have signed two of Cooper's 2011 championship teammates, flyhalf/fullback Jono Lance, and utility back Ben Lucas. Cooper, on the other hand, spent the majority of 2018 playing for Souths, captaining the Queensland Premier Rugby team to a humiliating semi-final in August 2018.

In a 36-man squad pick for NRC side Brisbane City, Cooper and former Reds teammates Karmichael Hunt and James Slipper were selected. The three players will continue to play for their respective Super Rugby franchises for the upcoming season, Cooper at the Rebels will beat Thorn's Reds twice, as will Hunt with the Waratahs, whilst Slipper at the Brumbies will lose to the Reds in Brisbane, but the Brumbies will win at home in Canberra.

Cooper had signed a one-year deal with the Melbourne Rebels, according to Rebels coach Dave Wessels, who had contacted him on October 23rd. Rebels were poorer back end and finished 11th overall and failed to qualify for a finals wild card spot after a hot start to the season. Cooper's Rebels won two games both home and away over Brad Thorn, who had "banished" Cooper from his home country. Cooper was notably absent from Wallabies squads for the test season, with Lealiifano expected to advance to the finals, but Michael Cheika, as well as Rebels teammate Matt To'omua, who was notably never played at flyhalf for the Rebels or Leicester, preferred Waratahs Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale. After a string of weak performances in the pool stages, Cheika's Wallabies will be stumbling out of the World Cup in the quarterfinals.

He then joined Kintetsu Liners in Japan ahead of the 2019-20 season, alongside longtime halves partner Will Genia. In 2020, Kintetsu and the Rebels will sign a joint venture, leaving Cooper's door ajar for returning to Super Rugby with the Rebels.

Cooper was called into the Wallabies squad in 2021, ahead of the first test of the Bledisloe Cup, owing to Australia's COVID limitations and a lack of form among the Australian flyhalves during the Super Rugby AU and Trans Tasman season. Cooper was named in the squad on July 25, along with former Reds teammates Duncan Paia'aua as the newcomers to Dave Rennie's testing setup. Cooper was chosen by Rennie to begin at his preferred flyhalf in round 4 of the 2021 Rugby Championship, ahead of opponent Lolesio, who was absent from the matchday 23rd entirely. This will be Cooper's first appearance in 1541 days, his last cap being a 15-minute stint off the bench against Italy in Brisbane. Cooper scored 23 out of 28 points from eight attempts on goal, with a flawless 8 out of eight attempts, as well as a 43m penalty goal at the death to defeat the Springboks 28-26.

Boxing career

On February 8, 2013, Cooper boxed in on the undercard of friend Sonny Bill Williams' fight. He fought as a cruiserweight against Muay Thai veteran Barry Dunnett, winning by first-round knockout.

Cooper defeated Warren Tresidder, 40, on the undercard of the Anthony Mundine fight in Brisbane on January 29, 2014. Tresidder had 25 years of cage fighting experience at the time. Cooper earned a 4th-round TKO.

Cooper was supposed to fight on the undercard of Sonny Bill Williams' fight against Chauncy Welliver on January 31, 2015. Despite this, he was eventually forced to leave.

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Awards and recognitions

• 2005 Australian Schoolboys national rugby union team tour
• 2006 Australian Schoolboys national rugby union team tour
• 2007 Australia national under-19 rugby union team
• 2007 Queensland Reds rugby union team début
• 2008 Australia national rugby union team début
• Awards: 2010 Investec Bank Super 14 Australian player of the series.
• Australia's Greatest Athlete (season 3): series winner
• 2011 Super Rugby Champion
• 2011 Tri Nations Champion