Don't be surprised if Quade Cooper ends up at Toulon despite the endless theatrics surrounding him, included his expletive-riddled Twitter tirade. Our Wallabies snouts tell us that his spot in the Rugby World Cup squad is not exactly locked down after his two recent poor Test performances. As for him playing for the Australian Sevens team at the Olympic Games, there is a long way to go there - including eligibility queries. In the end, he may have no other option but to head to Toulon. Adding to the pressure to head to Toulon are the regular outbursts from club owner Mourad Boudjellal, who has threatened legal action if Cooper reneges on his contract. Boudjellal's aggressive threats have, not surprisingly, hit Cooper hard.

We've been told that Cooper, also, hasn't exactly been delighted that Wallabies coaching staff have told him he has changed his passing style since his latest shoulder operation. But he has not been overwhelmed by the Cheika-run team meetings at which players are encouraged to openly speak out without fear of retribution, and the coach remains a fervent fan - encouraging Cooper to continue playing with an extravagant vein.

Quade Cooper still has a friend in Michael Cheika © Getty Images

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Show me the money

It appears in Wallabyland there is more interest in regaining Kane Douglas, which involves demands from Ireland for a release fee of around $Aus250-300,000. Not bad for a mob who say they have no money.

Maradona and Snickers

Our Argentine spies tell us that Israel Folau really enthused the locals of Mendoza, who treated him as a superstar after the Pumas Test. Hence his team-mates now call him 'Maradona.' Another Wallabies player, currently out of favour, is known as 'Snickers' after appearing recently as an underwear model.

Michael Hawker will leave ARU in April 2016

The Australian Rugby Union is not impressed that the proposed movements of some of their main officials has leaked out in recent months, but you can take it as said that chairman Michael Hawker will move on after the next annual general meeting in April 2016. The lobbying for Hawker's position has been feverish for some time. The early favourites to be the next ARU chairman are understood to be ARU directors Cameron Clyne and Brett Robinson, followed by Paul McLean and Ann Sherry, with Geoff Stooke, one of the most peculiar choices to sit on the ARU board in recent times, rated a rank outsider. Other names mentioned include former Wallabies Rod McCall, Nick Farr-Jones and Roger Davis.

An early ARU betting market framed by renowned Mosman SP bookie 'Wallaby Wally' has Clyne and Robinson 5/2 equal favourites, McLean 10/1, Farr-Jones 12/1, McCall 14/1, Sherry 15/1, Davis 100/1 and Stooke 5000/1.

There is also uncertainty how long struggling ARU chief executive officer Bill Pulver will last. He has been strangely quiet lately, but he is known to have been furious about recent leaks about ARU business, and maybe, just maybe, he is suspicious of the manoeuvres of another board member. Crows Nest can be such a catty place.

Pulver's push may force exit of respected NSW official

There's very strong word that Pulver is relentlessly pushing his personal preferred governance and organisational structure mantra through the NSW Rugby Union and the Waratahs. The result could see a prominent and respected but understandably very frustrated employee at the NSWRU leaving the game at the end of the year or even sooner. If this happens, it will be a sad loss. It will also intensify calls among Pulver's many detractors that the man who should actually be thinking about leaving the ranks is the ARU's divisive CEO.

Does nib Stadium as Test venue raise 'white flag

There were plenty of whistles and bells this week about Perth staging a Test next season at a rectangular ground, but there are still concerns it could be a bit of a 'white flag' exercise after recent fixtures at the larger Subiaco Oval struggled to lure a healthy crowd. Subiaco Oval has a capacity of 43,500; nib stadium 20,500. There are also concerns among locals about whether some of the facilities at nib- including the media box- is up to international standard. Less is clearly more in WA.

Rugby Link is dead, long live …

There's been dancing in the streets, after the Sydney clubs discovered the flawed Rugby Link online management and registration system is now dead and buried. They've been told they don't have to use the system next season, and the response has been an overwhelming sense of relief. At last the workers are being listened to.

World Rugby gravy train needs to stop for Samoa

Samoa need help from World Rugby © Getty Images

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Samoan officials have explained they will lose well over $Aus1million for hosting the recent All Blacks Test in Apia. Considering what a great success it was, and a marvelous advertisement it was for the international game, surely the IRB now named World Rugby, which is overflowing with funds, should foot the bill. Then for a change, World Rugby's funding would go to the right people rather than the game's networkers and those on the gravy train.

Whispers of the Week

• No names, no pack drill, but you may be able to guess. Did a Wallabies player on the flight home from Argentina really wake up to find someone had placed an actual dummy on his head?
• Sighted at former Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie's recent 50th birthday party at the Mosman Italian restaurant Il Perugino were numerous former team-mates. But did our snouts really see among the gathering one person who, unbeknown to McKenzie, was instrumental in him losing his ARU position?
• One former high-ranking Waratahs official is really pushing it by arguing that the franchise should go 50/50 with the NSW Rugby Union to fund a World Cup trip. Who's he kidding?
• With the sale of Melbourne Rebels, we hear that former ARU board member Jon Collins is again interested in the Waratahs. We're told he has some very interesting people in line to take over major positions if he ever becomes private owner of the Tahs. The identity of some of the people, when they become known, will have others in the know shaking their heads. Nonetheless, some in the Waratahs bunker are less than impressed with the current situation; and they are looking for escape routes.
• Who at the ARU is known as 'Mighty Mouth' for being unable to keep quiet about future plans and upsetting so many out in the suburbs. Mighty Mouth hasn't helped himself by openly verballing the Wallabies coach. There's only one winner in that battle - and it certainly won't be Mighty Mouth.
• A saucy video has appeared involving a Sydney premiership club, a gymnasium, players, and a former functions manager. Eye watering.