Saracens examine Queensland apprentice

Editor

Reds young fly-half Quade Cooper could be on his way to Saracens for a two-month stint later this year in a bid to speed up his development.

Reds young fly-half Quade Cooper could be on his way to Saracens for a two-month stint later this year in a bid to speed up his development.

Cooper has been the subject of interest from rugby league clubs as well as from the Hurricanes as his Reds career has dawdled at the starting line.

But he could end up at Saracens for the first two months of the Guinness Premiership season in September and October before heading back for pre-season with the Reds in November/December, largely at the behest of Eddie Jones.

Cooper has made a bright start to the 2008 Super 14, and the deal with Saracens, which would get the blessing of the Queensland union, would help his contract re-negotiation with both the QRU and ARU.

Australia are short of proven cover for the fly-half jersey, currently occupied by Matt Giteau, with two other rookies in Kurtley Beale and Berrick Barnes vying for the back-up spot.

Reds high-performance director Ben Whitaker said they wouldn't instantly rule out allowing Cooper to enjoy a between-season stint overseas if he wanted to further develop his game.

“We haven't heard much about it but we've helped out before when players have been released to play in the (New Zealand) NPC (after the Super 14),” he said to the AAP.

“He told us he was really interested in staying here (in Queensland).

“He's very happy here, he's obviously starting and he feels his future is with us.”