Cooper commits to Reds until 2015
Controversial flyhalf Quade Cooper has extended his contract with the Queensland Reds until 2015, keeping him in Australia until the next World Cup.
The 35-test veteran admitted on Saturday he was out celebrating his new deal when he and Kurtley Beale - both players are injured and unavailable for the test against Wales - were allegedly involved in an altercation outside a Brisbane bar.
He said he wouldn't comment on details of the allegations because an Australian Rugby Union investigation was ongoing.
The 24-year-old Cooper was integral to the Reds' Super Rugby championship season in 2011 but struggled in the World Cup, ending with a serious knee injury and dubbed by the local media as "Public Enemy No 1" in New Zealand, where he was born. New Zealand beat Australia in the semifinals and then edged France in the final.
"I'm in a good place at the moment, and I'm enjoying where the Reds are going as an organisation and as a team," Cooper told Fox Sports News. "We've got a bright future ahead and hopefully a few more titles in the next few years."
The re-signing of scrumhalf Will Genia had a role in Cooper's decision to stick with the Reds despite interest from foreign and interstate clubs and rugby league.
Cooper, who has only played 120 minutes of rugby for the Reds this season, has been in trouble with the ARU over off-field issues in the past, but attempted to play down the latest episode.
"We were doing what young blokes do," he said. "We were playing a bit of pool and it escalated from there."
