Cooper stays with rugby for one year
Posted September 10, 2010 13:20:00
Key playmaker Quade Cooper has confirmed he will lead the Wallabies into the 2011 World Cup after signing a one-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU).
Cooper opted not to accept a lucrative offer from rugby league side the Parramatta Eels and will stay in union with the Queensland Reds.
"I'm loving my rugby at the moment," Cooper said ahead of the final Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks.
"I wanted to stay and I wanted to bring it to a head now because these negotiations have taken time - but that's to be expected because we're talking about my future.
"It was time to bring some certainty to my future and now I can focus on what's approaching, including the 2011 World Cup."
ARU chief John O'Neill said Cooper still has plenty ahead of him in his rugby career.
"Reaching an agreement with Quade is also further evidence that we don't lose to rugby league players that we want to keep," he said.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said Cooper's decision was great news for the game on a whole.
"It allows Quade to continue with his development as a player in our environment where we have no doubt he has a lot more to offer in the build up to next year's rugby World Cup."
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Thanks. :-)