mobanmarketQUADE COOPER APPEARS poised to complete a move to European champions Toulon after Queensland Reds gave up on their quest to retain the Australia international.
Top 14 side Toulon announced back in April that they had signed Cooper on a two-year deal from next season, only for the Reds to deny a deal had been completed.
The Super Rugby outfit claimed that negotiations were still in progress, but in a statement released on Sunday the club confirmed they were no longer attempting to keep hold of the player, with Cooper now seemingly free to join Toulon.
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“Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) have advised Quade Cooper that they are withdrawing their contract offer and will not attempt to retain him for the 2016 season and beyond,” the statement read.
“It is understood that when Cooper travelled overseas in April he signed a pre-commitment to join French side Toulon at the conclusion of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
“Since that time, his management has been in negotiation with QRU and Australian Rugby Union (ARU).”
However, due to events over the last few weeks, QRU CEO Jim Carmichael said the organisation was no longer willing to participate in what has been an ongoing process with Cooper’s management.
“Quade has had the unwavering support of Queensland Rugby for many years and although he has consistently indicated his preference to stay with Queensland and both the QRU and ARU have worked tirelessly in an attempt to accommodate the requirements of his management,” Carmichael said.
The 27-year-old is now set to join Paul O’Connell at Toulon. Source: David Davies
“The QRU has been disappointed in a number of factors throughout this drawn-out negotiation process, including his recent trip to France and what we believe are unrealistic expectations made by his management.”
“We have come to the difficult decision that the investment we have made previously and were prepared to continue to make has not been recognised, particularly when taking into account our commitment to him over a very long period of time.
“As a consequence, we are no longer prepared to be involved in any further discussions as this will leave the organisation further exposed.”
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