Found guilty: Quade Cooper
Australia pivot Quade Cooper has received a three-match suspended ban and fined $40,000 for his criticism of the Wallabies.
Cooper, 24, made headlines last month when he lashed out on social media at the "toxic" environment within the national squad and the defensive style of coach Robbie Deans, also stoking speculation he would defect to rugby league.
He repeated his grievances on a television programme less than a week later, saying he did not want to be involved with the Wallabies under the current regime because it was "destroying" him as a player and a person.
Cooper, currently sidelined with a knee injury, was hauled before an Australian Rugby Union (ARU) disciplinary hearing on Wednesday to explain himself and slapped with a fine and a ban.
The three-match ban was suspended as was $20,000 of the $60,000 fine on the proviso that Cooper be of good behaviour for the next two years - meaning he will be available for national selection once he recovers from his knee injury.
The Reds playmaker was contrite.
"I fell below par of what it is to be a Wallaby. I apologise," Cooper said after the ruling.
"It was a very fair hearing. The punishment that was handed down to me, I have full respect for.
"I look forward to having a big year, not only with my state but with the Wallabies."
Comments
Westwest says...
Good one QC you are a complete fool you can't even keep your brain and mouth in check off the field. If you don't have any respect for the country your playing for you may as well go back to where you came from! To late QC we don't want you there!!!! Hope wallabies can find a full time 10 soon as they would be daft to put him and his gob back in in a hurry. Can't imagine it would be a great vibe in the changing room with him there at the moment.
Posted 17:46 31st October 2012
Kiwikev says...
I am just glad that he moved to Oz; otherwise, some poor ITM Cup side would be dealing with this idiot...
Posted 16:39 31st October 2012
JayStarr says...
@ rugbyphile: GOOD POINT !
@ jonesy: Exactly... He's behind in the queue after James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale in my opinion anyway - they are both as creative as him at his best, but their defense, stepping and kicking are significantly better. QC is nothing without an in-form Genia who takes the pressure off him... O'Connor and Beale have already shown that they are still good under pressure (I mean, James O made a name for himself while playing for the Force... and did brilliantly for the Rebels - THAT'S a good player).
Posted 15:35 31st October 2012
jonesy2 says...
JayStarr-- i agree, he is a league dimwit through and through as is his manager who manages all the dimwit, brainless morons like anthony mundine. if he wants to bleed gold then he can play back up 10 behind the world class superstar duo kurtley and JOC
Posted 14:01 31st October 2012
Jediboy says...
He's a fool, in much the same way Ashton is.
Posted 13:23 31st October 2012
Houston_11 says...
Leinster_goy
Well played sir... well played.
Posted 13:14 31st October 2012
Trader2 says...
Trinats both you and Quadey wouldn't know what the truth was even if it jumped up and bit you both on the bum.
Obviously the hybrid game contracts didn't come to him, why else would he have even fronted the ARU. Good news for the world bad news for the Wannabies. (if they ever pick him)
Posted 13:03 31st October 2012
mattlalor says...
I think it is a step in the right direction for Quade, QLD and ARU. He does seem to regret what he said but at the end of the day, I think everyone involved thinks there was some (maybe just a tiny bit) of truth in what he said. Others maybe just want to hold on to their jobs and jerseys. Has Deans done (not) enough to lose his job or are tries important in Rugby?
Posted 12:40 31st October 2012
new_j4a says...
@leinster_goy, roughly 40....could fit those in a car boot and still have room for a crate of Fosters....2 or 3 evenings work if his mates help him
Posted 12:33 31st October 2012
rugbyphile says...
Notice how much less toxic the atmosphere in the Wallaby camp became without him----
Posted 12:13 31st October 2012
leinster_goy says...
gonna take a lot of stolen laptops to pay that off
Posted 11:48 31st October 2012
Uglea says...
Truth or not, there are times and places to say it. Punishment has been given. He has the option of taking it and continuing as an employee or he can move on.
I'm not saying whether he is right or not, just that his employer had taken issue with what he said, when he said it and to whom he said it.
Let the comments and opinions come.
Posted 11:02 31st October 2012
Piriaka says...
Just a goose!!
Posted 10:40 31st October 2012
JayStarr says...
I don't believe anything this guy says anymore... I think he has already proven what a self-centered, divisive, cocky individual he is, and as far as I'm concerned there is no place for people like him in rugby - he's better off joining the other hooligans in league.
Posted 10:38 31st October 2012
jmanngod says...
what truth is that Trinats? Oz are second in the world and are pretty good for that ranking. No one else is going to turn that present lot into world champions.
Posted 10:31 31st October 2012
melkdave says...
Thats a hefy fine $40,000 isnt to be sneezed at ,but only a 3 game ban ,should have been 6 month min ban from the national squad only .But im guessing the ARU wanted to keep its options open for the Lions tour ,so we get a limp wristed ban again .
Posted 10:24 31st October 2012
Ferdie says...
Suspended sentence a non-event, rather gutless imo but they need the player, hope this is the end of it; back to the rugby and we'll see him an a few months for the Reds.
Posted 10:15 31st October 2012
davodiablo says...
Trinats ...seems like Quade could teach you a thing about being contrite .
Posted 10:15 31st October 2012
rockman says...
OK so what if he doesn't pay? What can they do? Say he'll never play for them again? I don't think he wants to anyway.
Posted 09:58 31st October 2012
StunTheMullet says...
If the ARUs brains hadn't been boiled by too much Fosters in the sun then they'd ban the Quadestile for life to save Wallaby rugby.
Posted 09:06 31st October 2012