Australian rugby
Cooper rejected offer to fight for his place
ESPN Staff
September 5, 2013
Australia's Quade Cooper dodges a tackle, Australia v Argentina, Rugby Championship, Skilled Park, Gold Coast, Australia, September 15, 2012
Quade Cooper returns to the Wallabies starting side on Saturday © PA Photos
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Quade Cooper knocked back a lucrative deal to play rugby in France last year in order to pursue regaining a Wallabies jersey.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Cooper knocked back a $1.8 million package to join Montpellier in December 2012 and has remained silent on the offer since. Cooper's manager Khoder Nasser says the fly-half, who returns to Australia's starting side against South Africa at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, was determined to fight his way back into the Wallabies fold.

"Quade definitely wanted to prove a few things in Australia. He knocked back a great offer in France," Nasser said.

Nasser believes Cooper now has improved mental and physical strength, qualities he attributes in part to his foray into boxing.

"Boxing makes you look at yourself. You have to be real because it's only you making the call on how hard you train and being honest about your weaknesses," Nasser said. "And you've got to have balls to stick your head in any ring."

Cooper, who will play his 41st Test this weekend, says he has learnt to deal with the booing dealt out to him by All Blacks fans.

"You can't let it get you down or get to you," he said. "I look back a few years and maybe I let it get me at the (2011) World Cup. It was an interesting learning curve. "I've matured since then. You know it (the heckling) is going to be there when you run out or catch or pass the ball. I just don't let it surprise me."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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