Cooper to stay with Reds
Australian flyhalf Quade Cooper has ended speculation over his
future by announcing he will re-sign with the Queensland Reds.
Cooper, the Australian Super 14 player of the year, said on
Sunday he would stay at Queensland once he finalised a new deal
with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU).
The Western Force had made a bid for the 22-year-old following
his brilliant Super 14 campaign and Cooper said he had looked
closely at all options.
However, he said the support of the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU)
and his Reds teammates following a burglary charge late last year
was a major factor in his decision.
"With the support networks I've got at Queensland, it would have
been hard to walk away from them.
"It's a pretty big weight off my shoulders to secure my future
with the Reds and exciting to see what's ahead."
Cooper scored two tries in a man-of-the-match display in the
Wallabies' 27-17 win over England in Perth on Saturday.