Super Rugby
Reds pull offer to Quade Cooper
ESPN Staff
June 21, 2015
Quade Cooper
Quade Cooper© Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Quade Cooper appears to be Toulon-bound after the Queensland Rugby Union pulled out of talks over a new contract.

Wallabies fly-half Cooper was pictured in a Toulon shirt alongside the club's owner Mourad Boudjellal back in April, amid reports that he had agreed a two-year deal with the Top 14 club.

However, Queensland retained hope that the 27-year-old would decide to stay in Australia with negotiations between the QRU and his management ongoing.

Those talks have since reached breaking point, though, with a Reds media release saying "events over the last few weeks" prompted the organisation to take their offer off the table.

"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, 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," QRU chief executive Jim Carmichael said.

"QRU has been flexible in its attempts to retain Quade, offering significant remuneration and being understanding of his boxing ambitions and supportive in relation to the possibility of sabbatical options.

"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.

"It goes without saying that Quade leaves us with our gratitude for his time with the Reds and has only our best wishes and thanks as he enters a new chapter in his career."

Cooper has played 53 times for the Wallabies and will need to amass a further seven caps before the end of the World Cup if he is to remain eligible for international rugby while in France.

© ESPN Staff

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