Cooper could stay – Cheika

Editor

Australia head coach Michael Cheika has not yet given up hope on Quade Cooper staying in the country, thus snubbing a proposed switch to France.

The Reds fly-half, who has returned from injury in good form, was on Sunday included in a training squad by Cheika ahead of the Rugby Championship.

And the international boss has revealed that after a conversion with Cooper, he believes the mercurial number ten's future could yet still be in Australia.

"The way he (Cooper) is investing in what we are doing down there and his input into the program and what is going on, you'd like to think he is staying for quite a while because that's definitely the feel he has given off," he told AAP.

"His commitment and investment in that project, what he's giving and his involvement there and his eagerness to be involved.

"But it is still a decision that is up to him and his management. They are taking their time to make the right one and I don't have a problem with that.

"I'm very keen for him to stay."

Also named in Australia's squad was Cooper's Reds team-mate and centre Karmichael Hunt, who Cheika admits is still an unknown quantity in his eyes.

"I haven't really seen him play a stack of footy," added the coach.

"I want to get to know him a bit more around his footy and what he brings and his thoughts around the game, I really haven't had a lot to do with him."