Reds still mulling Cooper appeal

Updated July 18, 2012 15:35:10

Queensland is still considering whether to appeal the one-match suspension handed down to star Reds fly half Quade Cooper.

Cooper was given the ban at a SANZAR judicial hearing on Monday after he was placed on report for a high tackle on New South Wales' Berrick Barnes in Saturday night's 32-16 win at Lang Park.

The Reds argued Cooper did not deserve suspension, as the tackle was only deemed to be worthy of a yellow card and 10 minutes in the sin-bin.

SANZAR allow a 48-hour window to launch an appeal following a judicial ruling.

The Reds issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon saying they were seriously considering an appeal but were wary of it distracting the team's preparations.

"Under the current SANZAR protocols if we were to launch an appeal we would lose at least a further day of preparation with Ewen and Quade, who would both be required to fly to Sydney for another hearing," Reds chairman Rod McCall said in a statement.

"However, we are cognisant of the need to support our player if we feel he has been treated harshly and in our opinion we still strongly believe the tackle did not warrant suspension."

Should Cooper serve the one-match suspension he will miss the Reds' qualifying final against the Sharks at Lang Park on Saturday night.

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted July 18, 2012 15:34:01

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Beale still a chance of facing Wales

Updated May 29, 2012 20:56:01

Utility back Kurtley Beale may yet play a part in Australia's June Tests against Wales if his shoulder injury recovers in time, the Wallabies said on Tuesday.

Beale, who was injured in the Melbourne Rebels' loss to the Hurricanes in their Super Rugby match over the weekend, had surgery to clean out floating cartilage in his shoulder on Monday.

He was nonetheless expected to rejoin the Wallabies training squad after the team's match against Scotland on June 5, a Wallabies spokesman said.

"Then it's a matter of how he pulls up ... He could come back in time to be involved in the Wales series," he said of the three-match series that starts in Brisbane on June 9.

Beale's injury saw coach Robbie Deans rush Quade Cooper back into the squad, despite the mercurial fly half playing less than two full matches of rugby for Queensland as he battles back from a serious knee injury he sustained at the World Cup in New Zealand last year.

Cooper's Reds team-mate and utility back Ben Lucas has also been drafted into the training camp in Sydney this week ahead of the Scotland Test in Newcastle.

The Wallabies play Wales in Melbourne on June 16 and Sydney on June 23.

Skipper James Horwill is a certainty to miss the four Tests against Scotland and Wales, meaning lock Nathan Sharpe could win a 102nd cap while flanker David Pocock should be elevated to the captaincy.

Reuters

Tags: rugby-union, sport, australia

First posted May 29, 2012 20:56:01

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Rebels still searching for win

Updated March 13, 2012 20:53:17

The Melbourne Rebels are not patting themselves on the back about their rousing performance against Super Rugby champions Queensland, saying they will not settle on anything but a win.

The Rebels were roundly applauded for a gutsy 11-6 round two loss to the Reds, pushing the competition pace-setters until the final hooter.

While happy with his team's improvement, Melbourne coach Damien Hill said it still was not a much-needed victory for last year's wooden-spooners.

"There's a lot of things in the game we should take confidence out of ... but I don't know whether it will be a springboard for the season," Hill said.

"I think the springboard might come when we get the first win and, until that occurs, we need to strive to get better."

The Rebels' biggest weakness - their defence - became an asset against the Reds thanks to some tireless efforts from locks Luke Jones and Hugh Pyle and flanker Tom Chamberlain.

Wallabies full-back Kurtley Beale, making his Rebels debut, also pulled off some try-saving tackles.

Last year, the Rebels were consistently inconsistent; a trait they hoped to shed in their second year.

"You can't afford to come close one week and then take your foot off the pedal. You need to look at what let us down the week before and make sure you put in a better performance," Hill said.

He said they would need to improve their attack to topple the Cheetahs, who they host at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the club seems resigned to losing their mercurial English import Danny Cipriani, who is set to announce his playing future.

Cipriani tweeted this week that he is close to confirming his plans.

He has spoken of his desire to return to Test rugby, with the current policy that English players must play in the country to be eligible for the national team.

The former England five-eighth reportedly last month signed a three-year deal with Sale Sharks, however the Rebels then said they knew nothing of his plans.

Hill said he could not confirm anything.

"A player of his calibre will be in demand and one thing that's always been very clear from day one is that Danny's ambition is to play in the English team," he said.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-rugby, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted March 13, 2012 20:52:16

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Force still waiting on O'Connor

Updated June 09, 2011 17:45:08

Western Force chief executive Vern Reid says the Perth-based franchise will not rest easy until James O'Connor has put pen to paper on a new contract.

O'Connor is seemingly certain to stay at the Force next season, with his management already telling Australia's remaining Super Rugby franchises that he will not be coming their way.

However, the 20-year-old cannot sign on with the Force until his Australian Rugby Union (ARU) contract is sorted.

Reid says although the Force are confident of keeping O'Connor, the club will be in a state of limbo until the deal is finalised.

"All I can really say to you today is we are hopeful that we can conclude an arrangement with James. It's not concluded yet and my understanding is neither is his ARU contract," he said.

"So we are in a state of limbo and the situation for the Western Force and James O'Connor going forward still has some distance to go.

"I'm pleased where we are, but equally if there are issues that are yet to be resolved, then the market would be open and the game would be back on."

Reid says the Force hope they can settle on a deal in the next few days, but admits it is not done yet "by any stretch".

- AAP

Tags: super-14, perth-6000

First posted June 09, 2011 12:35:00

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Cipriani still out of Rebels frame

Updated June 1, 2011 14:43:00

Controversial five-eighth Danny Cipriani remains on the outer at the Melbourne Rebels, with the Super Rugby club and his management unable to agree on a revamped contract.

The out-of-favour Englishman was again left out of the line-up as the bottom-placed Rebels host South Africa's top side, the Stormers, in Melbourne on Friday night.

It is believed the Rebels, who left Cipriani out of their two-match tour to South Africa stating they had "lost confidence" in him, want the 23-year-old to sign a re-worked contract that relates to his off-field conduct.

The club issued a statement on Wednesday as they announced the squad for the AAMI Park clash, and said Cipriani, who has seven England Test caps, was still unavailable.

"The Melbourne Rebels administration continues to work through a number of issues with Danny Cipriani and his management," said the Rebels' chief operating officer Steve Boland.

"These discussions are now moving in a very positive direction but, at the moment, Danny remains unavailable for selection."

Melbourne chief executive Ross Oakley could not be contacted for comment.

Cipriani has not played since April 30 after being axed because of off-field disciplinary breaches.

It was hoped the two parties could come to terms this week with only three matches remaining in the Rebels' inaugural season.

Cipriani has another year remaining on his deal, although the contractual stand-off appears to make it increasingly unlikely he will be back in Melbourne next season.

In the absence of the mercurial Cipriani - who has still been training with the squad - Julian Huxley will start at five-eighth, as James Hilgendorf is out with an ankle injury.

Former Test hooker Adam Freier has been named on the bench, set to make his long-awaited debut for the Rebels after finally overcoming back and hamstring problems.

Nic Henderson returns to the side, replacing Greg Somerville at loosehead prop while Jarrod Saffy moves to blindside flanker, with Luke Jones unavailable due to under-20 World Cup commitments in Italy.

Vice-captain Gareth Delve returns to the starting 15 at No.8, relegating Tim Davidson to the bench.

The Rebels are looking to snap a six-match losing streak which dates back to their round seven win over the Force in early April.

Rebels: Richard Kingi, Lachlan Mitchell, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Cooper Vuna, Julian Huxley, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve, Michael Lipman, Jarrod Saffy, Hugh Pyle, Alister Campbell, Laurie Weeks, Ged Robinson, Nic Henderson. Res: Adam Freier, Greg Somerville, Kevin O'Neill, Tim Davidson, Sam Cordingley, Peter Betham, Afusipa Taumoepeau.

-AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted June 1, 2011 13:52:00

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Cipriani still in limbo with Rebels

Posted May 31, 2011 17:22:00

Danny Cipriani's management are meeting with Melbourne Rebels officials to try and resolve a dispute between the Super Rugby club and the star player.

The English five-eighth was left behind from the Rebels' recent two-match tour of South Africa after repeated off-field disciplinary breaches.

Assistant coach Damien Hill said whether Cipriani would be considered for a home return on Friday night against the Stormers depended on the club reaching a satisfactory resolution with his management.

"The administration is in talking with Danny's management at the moment regarding his availability for this week," Hill said.

"It's not ideal, but that's just the way it is at the moment.

"You'll find out more about that tomorrow when we'll be announcing the team.

"There are issues there that need to be resolved and that's being handled by the administration."

Hill refused to elaborate on what Cipriani or his management needed to do to convince the club he should be allowed to play again.

Cipriani has not played for the Rebels since breaching a team pact following the loss to the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on April 30.

Hill acknowledged the constant spotlight on the 23-year-old's off-field troubles had made the Rebels' inaugural year tougher.

"It's a distraction and I'd be lying if I said we couldn't have done without it," he said.

"But when you have any sort of club set-up where you've got 30-plus players, all new, a third of which are foreign, you're going to have issues that arise."

He said even if the Rebels' administration cleared Cipriani, there was no guarantee the match committee would select him.

On a positive note, hooker Adam Freier will finally represent the bottom-placed Rebels for the first time on Friday night, after recovering from back surgery, then a hamstring injury.

"It's been a long road and the timing of the year is insignificant as far as what the outcome will be for the season, but these three games mean absolutely everything to me," Freier said.

"Making it back so far, it's happy days for me at the moment."

-AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

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