Quade Cooper: Turning his back on the Wallabies
Wallabies pivot Quade Cooper has revealed that he will not play for Australia in the current environment which he says is 'destroying' him.
The 24-year-old, talking to Fox Sports program, The Rugby Club, explained his recent criticism on social media website Twitter of the Wallaby set-up and was clearly disappointed with the tactics employed by current coach Robbie Deans.
"I'm just striving to be the best that I can be and that's why I said (in reference to his Twitter comments) I didn't want to be involved in that kind of environment," he said.
"For me to continue to improve as a player and as a person you want to be in the best possible environment.
"And I feel that that environment is destroying me as a person and as a player, so that I can't do the best that I can do to represent my country and my family and my friends, to the best of my ability."
Cooper is currently out of action due to a knee injury but said if he was fit and selected he would not play for Australia in the future.
"No (I would not play), like I said, it's the environment there at the moment," he said.
"(The environment) is one that I don't feel comfortable in and if I don't feel comfortable and if I don't feel that I can give 100 per cent for my country and that yellow jersey, that's a very big problem."
Cooper - who said his comments were not a personal attack on Deans - insisted that money was not the reason for his attack and that he would continue to honour his existing three-year contract with the Reds.
"Money has nothing to do with it," he explained.
"I've got a contract with the Reds that I'm happy with and I signed that a long time ago."
Comments
rugby_rockstar says...
Its funny, last year you had fans hauling Johnno over the coals for allegedly limiting the england game plan. now you have Quade Cooper being publically stoned for demanding more freedom to express himself on the pitch.
Fans are fickle.
Posted 17:27 27th September 2012
KubilaKhan says...
Okay so he's so ashamed of playing terribly that he blames everyone else but himself. Oh Quade, you're a silly bugger!
Posted 16:45 27th September 2012
melkdave says...
Well thats that then goodbye Q.Cooper,on the international scean for the forseeable future.He cant be expecting a recall when fit ,given his posturing and ranting.,a talanted player ,whos ego has just imploded his career .Even if R.Deans goes tommorrow his upset enough people in the ARU ect to make sure his career is over international wise.All that awaits him now is being a small footnote in rugby history ,who will be soon forgotten,rather than a player who could perhaps have been a legend of the game .A real shame ,but he only has himself to blame .
Posted 16:01 27th September 2012