![]() Cooper representing Brisbane City in the National Rugby Championship, October 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Full name | Quade Santini Cooper [1] [2] [3] [4] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 5 April 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand [5] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Anglican Church Grammar School [6] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Sean Maitland (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Quade Santini Cooper (born 5 April 1988) [6] is a professional rugby union player and occasional boxer. Although born in New Zealand, he has represented Australia in rugby at international level. He currently plays for Hanazono Liners in Japan, and is a former player for the Queensland Reds and the Melbourne Rebels in the Super Rugby competition in Australia. His preferred position is fly-half.
Quade Santini Cooper was born in Auckland, New Zealand on 5 April 1988. [5] He has three sisters, Shavarn, Georgie, and Pania and two brothers, Reuben and Moses. [7] As a one-year-old Cooper moved to Tokoroa and was raised by his mother and step-father, Ruhia and David Jones. He attended Forest View High School before moving to Brisbane, Australia in 2001, at 13-years-old. [8] In Brisbane, Cooper attended Rochedale State High School and Springwood State High School before being awarded a scholarship to Anglican Church Grammar School, where he excelled for their first XV rugby union team from 2005 till 2006. [9] In the first year of his ascendance, his team tied for the Queensland GPS Premiership with Brisbane State High School in 2005.
Cooper played in all the age group rugby union and league sides in Waikato. He toured the United Kingdom as five-eighth or fullback with the Australian Schoolboys in 2005, alongside David Pocock and Lachie Turner. [10] He rejoined the side in 2006, furthering his total caps to nine, which was the then equal schoolboy record. [11] He also forced his way into the Reds' side as a teenager in 2006. [12] Cooper was selected as a replacement against Japan at the National Stadium, Tokyo in November, winning 29–22. [13]
Cooper joined the ARU-funded high-performance program with the national talent squad, and signed with the Queensland Reds for the 2007 Super 14 season. At 18-years-old, Cooper made his debut appearance for the Reds in Round 2 of the competition, against the Crusaders at Jade Stadium, Christchurch. [14] The Reds went on to lose the game by eleven points. [15] Unfortunately, the franchise finished bottom of the table, having won just two of 13 games. It saw head coach Eddie Jones resign after an 89-point defeat by the Bulls. [16] It was later unveiled Cooper would be the first five-eighth for one of the two Queensland teams, the East Coast Aces in the inaugural Australian Rugby Championship. The side was guided by former Samoa coach John Boe and Australian lock Garrick Morgan. [17]
It was reported by The Sunday Mail early 2008 that the New Zealand Rugby Union showed interest and had held preliminary talks with Cooper's management team after he would be off contract at season's end with Queensland. It was understood the Hurricanes were in line for his signature, and including a possible defection to rugby league. [18] Cooper was involved in a famous upset five-tries-to-one victory over the Bulls. Head coach Phil Mooney made six changes to the side that started against the Stormers the previous week, which earned Cooper's first start of the 2008 season. [19] Cooper performed a try assist after a chip kick to Morgan Turinui in the 72nd minute, securing their first bonus-point victory in four years. [20]
Cooper was amongst seven Super 14 players included in the Australian national under-20 side after coach Brian Melrose confirmed the team naming for the inaugural 2008 IRB Junior World Championships in June. [21] Cooper impressed, coming third in most conversions converted behind Francois Brummer and Trent Renata of New Zealand. Australia had the youngest and heaviest squad in the tournament. [22] After receiving age-grade honors, Cooper was later selected for Australia in their 2008 end-of-year tour campaign. He made his international test debut against Italy, as a substitute back. Cooper scored a late try to help Australia to a victory over Italy in Padova, with eight minutes remaining. [23] He made another further two replacement appearances against France and Wales before playing in the historic match against the Barbarian F.C. at Wembley Stadium. [24] It marked the celebration of Australia winning the rugby gold medal at the 1908 London Olympics. Cooper was involved in a touchline fight between Federico Pucciariello after tussling into the advertising boards and needed to be separated by colleagues and verbally warned by referee Chris White. [25]
National Rugby League clubs and NZRU officials came up unsuccessful in attempting to sign Cooper in 2009. The New Zealand Rugby Union showed interest in luring him back to New Zealand as they faced a possible loss of New Zealand international first five-eighth Dan Carter. [26] Cooper instead re-signed with Australia and the Reds. After repeating another near bottom of the table finish, Cooper was one of just four players and the only member of the backline to appear in all thirteen matches during the Reds 2009 Super 14 campaign. He scored four tries, which was second only to Digby Ioane among the team's leading try-scorers. [27] The season also saw the Reds suffer a historic seventh loss from seven matches away to the Highlanders, and was their 22nd loss in 23 visits to New Zealand since 1999. [28]
Cooper gained his first test start, playing at second five-eighth, during the final test against Italy in Melbourne during the 2009 June series. [29] He went on to feature eight times for Australia, starting all four tests on the Grand Slam tour from the second five-eighth position. Cooper stood out on tour and earned praise from former Welsh great Barry John after a victory over Wales at Millennium Stadium. [30]
Playing at fly-half in the Wallabies' 1st Tri-Nations Series Test against South Africa, Cooper was yellow-carded during the game for a dangerous tackle on Morne Steyn. [ citation needed ] Later he was suspended from two Tests against New Zealand, the Bledisloe Cup clashes in Melbourne and Christchurch. He returned from suspension to face South Africa in Pretoria and Bloemfontein. He featured in the final Tri-Nations clash against the All Blacks in a 22–23 loss at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Cooper took part in all of the Wallabies' Spring Tour games, playing at flyhalf.
In 2011 Cooper signed with player agent Khoder Nasser. [31] In 2011, the Queensland Reds won the inaugural Super Rugby title, with Cooper featuring prominently and kicking most of their goals.
Cooper played in all of the Wallabies' Tri-Nations games. When James O'Connor was suspended from the deciding Tri-Nations test at Suncorp Stadium against the All Blacks, Cooper took over the kicking duties in a 25–20 win, securing Australia's only Tri-Nations title since 2001 in the final edition of the competition.
Cooper was selected for the Wallabies for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand. Starting all games at flyhalf, Cooper was booed by New Zealand crowds because he had earlier used his knee to smash the face of New Zealand captain Richie McCaw. Coach, Robbie Deans, through his experience with the judiciary. had been able to get him off, according to New Zealand media and coach. [32] [33] A fairer assessment is that Cooper was targeted by the New Zealand media and crowds and had a lacklustre series.
Cooper was selected for the third-place playoff at Eden Park against Wales. Cooper set up the opening try before succumbing to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that later ruled him out of the opening rounds of the Reds' title defence in the 2012 Super Rugby season.
In mid-2012, while recovering from the knee injury, Cooper signed a three-year deal to stay with the Reds through to 2015. [34] Cooper's return from the injury came in Round 13 of the 2012 Super Rugby season against the Lions.[ citation needed ]
In Round 18, Cooper was yellow-carded and placed on report for a high tackle on former Reds and current Wallabies teammate Berrick Barnes. Cooper was later given a one-week suspension, causing him to miss the elimination-final against the Sharks, which the Reds lost 17–30.[ citation needed ]
In December 2012, Cooper agreed to a two-year contract extension with the ARU. [35]
In 2013, Cooper played in all of the Reds' Super Rugby games. After the sacking of Deans as Wallabies coach and his replacement by former Reds coach Ewen McKenzie, Cooper made his first Wallabies appearance after a long absence in the first test of the 2013 Rugby Championship, coming off the bench for the final 20 minutes in a losing effort against the All Blacks. He featured in the starting 15 at flyhalf for the rest of the Rugby Championship.
In the Wallabies clash with the All Blacks at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on 19 October, Cooper six goals from six attempts, an additional drop goal, made three try-saving tackles and two line-breaks, and set up a try for teammate Adam Ashley-Cooper.
At the end of October, Cooper was named as vice-captain for the Cook Cup test against England. [36] Under coach Ewen McKenzie he featured in all of the Wallabies' European autumn tour games. [37]
On 7 March 2014, Cooper broke Elton Flatley's record of 629 points, as well as the all-time Queensland Red's point-scoring record in the Reds' 43–33 win over South Africa's Cheetahs at Suncorp Stadium.
On 5 May 2014, Cooper received his 100th Super Rugby cap for the Reds in a match against the Auckland Blues at Eden Park. On 17 May, he was ruled out for the rest of the Super Rugby season following a shoulder injury against the Melbourne Rebels in round 14. He later underwent shoulder and hip surgery. [38] After recovering from his injury, Cooper was named in the Wallabies' 32-man squad for the third Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium. [39]
On 21 April 2015, it was rumoured that Cooper had committed to a two-year deal with French Top 14 side Toulon. [40] In July 2015 it was revealed that Cooper had turned down the deal and re-committed to the ARU in order to be part of the Rio 2016 sevens team. [41]
On 3 November, Cooper was 'unveiled' to the media as a member of the RC Toulon roster for the 2015–16 season. Cooper apologised to the Toulon fanbase for "extended negotiations" allowing him to be released if called to the Australian Sevens team for the Olympics. Cooper joined former Wallaby teammates Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell, James O'Connor and Sales Ma'afu at the French club. In his debut against Montpellier, Cooper helped set up multiple tries.
Cooper joined the Australian 7s squad in the lead-up to the 2016 Olympic Games, commencing with the Sydney leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series. Cooper scored his first try in sevens for Australia on 6 March 2016 in the team's 36–7 win against England. [42] However, Cooper was later dropped from the squad in May 2016. Cooper claimed he was dropped because he did not hold an Australian passport at the time as citizenship of a country is required to represent that country in an Olympics. [43]
Cooper returned to the Queensland Reds for the 2017 Super Rugby season after a brief time away playing club rugby for Toulon and Rugby sevens for Australia in 2016. He played twelve of the fifteen 2017 Super Rugby games and scored seventy four points, playing as a first choice fly-half. Cooper was selected for the Wallabies squad for the June tests against Fiji, Scotland and Italy, with Bernard Foley preferred in the starting role. The two wins and upset loss against Scotland would become Cooper's last appearance in a test jersey until 2021 as he was snubbed by Cheika for the 2017 Spring Tour, instead being selected to captain Alan Jones' Barbarians FC side, managing a free-flowing style of football which caught the Wallabies by surprise, the Wallabies would go on to claim a narrow 31–28 victory in Sydney.
In late 2017 it was reported that Cooper was dropped by the Reds before the start of the 2018 season. It was revealed new head coach Brad Thorn told Cooper that "he was the fifth-choice fly-half and was no longer part of his plans" for the franchise and would not be needed at training. It was suggested that Cooper would be playing club rugby for current club Souths. [44] [45] The Reds, under Thorn then signed two of Cooper's 2011 championship teammates flyhalf/fullback Jono Lance and utility back Ben Lucas. Meanwhile, Cooper spent the majority of 2018 playing for Souths, captaining the Queensland Premier Rugby side to a knockout semi-final in August 2018.
In 2018, Cooper and former Reds teammates Karmichael Hunt and James Slipper were named in a 36-man squad selection for NRC side Brisbane City. [46] The three would go on to be signed with rival Super Rugby franchises for the following season, Cooper at the Rebels would go on to defeat Thorn's Reds twice, as would Hunt with the Waratahs, while Slipper at the Brumbies would lose to the Reds in Brisbane however, win at home in Canberra.
On 23 October, it was announced that Cooper had signed a one-year contract with the Melbourne Rebels, being sought out by Rebels coach Dave Wessels. [47] [48] [49] After a hot start to the season, Rebels had a poorer back end and finished 11th overall, missing out on a finals wild card spot. On a personal front, Cooper's Rebels did manage two wins both home and away over the Queensland Reds coached by Brad Thorn who had "banished" Cooper from his home franchise. Subsequently, Cooper was notably absent from Wallabies squads for the test season with Lealiifano expectedly ahead of him given the Brumbies run to the finals, however Michael Cheika preferred Waratahs Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale as backup options ahead of him as well as Rebels teammate Matt To'omua, who interestingly rarely featured at flyhalf for the Rebels or Leicester. Cheika's Wallabies would go on to bomb out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals after some shaky performances in the pool stages.
He then joined Kintetsu Liners in Japan ahead of the 2019–20 season alongside longtime halves partner Will Genia. [50] In 2020 Kintetsu and the Rebels would sign a partnership agreement, leaving the door ajar for Cooper to return to Super Rugby with the Rebels.
In 2021, prior to the first test of the Bledisloe Cup, rumours had circled that Cooper would be called into the Wallabies squad a result of Australia's COVID restrictions and lack of form among the Australian flyhalves during the Super Rugby AU and Trans Tasman season. On July 25, it was formally announced that Cooper was named in the squad, alongside former Reds teammate Duncan Paia'aua as newcomers to Dave Rennie's test setup. [51] In round 4 of the 2021 Rugby Championship, Cooper was selected by Rennie to start at his preferred flyhalf ahead of incumbent Lolesio, who was absent from the matchday 23 altogether. This would be Cooper's first appearance in 1541 days, his last cap being a 15-minute stint off the bench against Italy in Brisbane. Cooper scored 23 out of 28 points, with a perfect 8 from 8 attempts at goal, including a 43m penalty goal at the death to beat the Springboks 28-26. [52]
Quade Cooper | |
---|---|
Nationality | ![]() |
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | Cruiserweight |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 3 |
Wins | 3 |
Wins by KO | 3 |
Cooper boxed on the undercard of friend Sonny Bill Williams' bout on 8 February 2013. He fought as a cruiserweight [53] against Muay Thai veteran Barry Dunnett, winning by first-round knockout. [54]
On 29 January 2014, Cooper fought 40-year-old Warren Tresidder on the undercard of the Anthony Mundine bout in Brisbane. [55] Tresidder had 25 years of cage fighting experience at the time. Cooper won with a 4th-round TKO. [56]
On 31 January 2015, Cooper was due to fight on the undercard of Sonny Bill Williams's bout against Chauncy Welliver. However, he was later forced to pull out. [57]
Cooper grew up playing rugby league with Shaun Kenny-Dowall and even came close to joining the NRL's Melbourne Storm in 2008. [58] In August 2010 Cooper was rumoured to be considering a switch to rugby league and playing for the Parramatta Eels in the 2011 NRL season. This would have meant Cooper sacrificing his Wallabies' position. [59] A figure of $850,000 was speculated, [60] and Parramatta reportedly offered Cooper $1.5 million over three years. [61] The issue was resolved in September when Cooper signed a one-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union. [61] He said, even though he found the Parramatta offer flattering, he still saw his future in rugby union. For 2011 he wanted to continue with the Reds, and hoped to continue with the Wallabies and represent Australia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. [61]
Cooper is the cousin of Scotland international player and 2013 British & Irish Lion Sean Maitland [62] and is the cousin of Cheyenne Campbell. [63] Cooper has previously been in high-profile relationships, most notably Stephanie Rice and recently Laura Dundovic.
In May 2016, Cooper stated that he had been dropped from the Australian Sevens team ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games as he was not an Australian citizen, a requirement set by the International Olympic Committee. He had previously been travelling on a New Zealand passport while playing internationally for Australia. [64]
In July 2021, Cooper complained that he was still unable to become an Australian citizen despite living in the country since the age of thirteen. [65] On 14 September 2021, after Cooper had rejoined the Wallabies and helped win a 2021 Rugby Championship match against the Springboks, Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced that greater flexibility for residency requirements for citizenship would in future be allowed for the "most highly distinguished prospective Australians" due to their "unique work and travel demands", although he didn't mention Cooper explicitly. [66] Cooper subsequently passed the Australian citizenship test on 3 December 2021 [67] and was officially granted Australian citizenship on 24 February 2022. [68]
In December 2009, Cooper was charged with burglary after allegedly taking two laptops from a residence on the Gold Coast. [69] The charges were withdrawn after mediation with the complainants. [70]
In August 2011, Cooper was accused of deliberately kneeing Richie McCaw in the face, after McCaw had targeted Cooper off the ball, at the 2011 Tri Nations test, but at the subsequent SANZAR judicial hearing in Brisbane the charge was dismissed. [32] [33]
In September, Cooper tweeted comments on the Wallabies’ set-up, which included criticising the defensive style and lack of player input under coach Robbie Deans, inadequate training and recovery facilities, and a "toxic environment". He also said he would not play for the Wallabies under those conditions. As a result, Cooper was fined a record $60,000 (of which $20,000 was a 2-year suspended sentence) and given a suspended three-match Wallabies ban. It was thought that the incident would prompt Cooper to abandon Australian rugby. However, he recommitted to the Reds and ARU. [71]
Club | Year | Competition | GP | GS | TRY | CON | PEN | DGL | PTS | WL% | ![]() | ![]() |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reds | 2006 | Autumn international | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
2007 | Super Rugby | 11 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9.09 | 0 | 0 | |
2008 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 18.18 | 0 | 0 | ||
2009 | 13 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 23.08 | 0 | 0 | ||
2010 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 31 | 27 | 1 | 171 | 61.54 | 1 | 0 | ||
2011† | 18 | 18 | 5 | 31 | 43 | 4 | 228 | 83.33 | 1 | 0 | ||
2012 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | ||
2013 | 17 | 17 | 3 | 20 | 38 | 1 | 172 | 58.82 | 0 | 0 | ||
2013 | British & Irish Lions tour | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2014 | Super Rugby | 12 | 12 | 2 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 120 | 25 | 0 | 0 | |
2015 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 42 | 20 | 0 | 0 | ||
2017 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 25 | 8 | 0 | 74 | 33.33 | 0 | 1 | ||
2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
Rebels | 2019 | 16 | 15 | 3 | 40 | 7 | 0 | 116 | 43.75 | 0 | 0 | |
East Coast Aces | 2007 | Australian Rugby Championship | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
Brisbane City | 2014† | National Rugby Championship | 3 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 66.67 | 0 | 0 |
2017 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 66.67 | 0 | 0 | ||
2018 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 63 | 57.14 | 1 | 0 | ||
Toulon | 2015–16 | Top 14 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 72.73 | 0 | 0 |
2015–16 | European Rugby Champions Cup | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 75 | 0 | 0 | |
Career | 174 | 158 | 33 | 232 | 148 | 7 | 1,119 | 47.7 | 3 | 1 |
Grouping | Span | GP | GS | TRY | CON | PEN | DGL | PTS | W | D | L | WL% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 2012–2016 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
![]() | 2009–2016 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 28.57 |
![]() | 2010–2017 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
![]() | 2008–2014 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.67 |
![]() | 2009–2016 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 33.33 |
Career | 24 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 63 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 58.33 |
3 fights | 3 wins | 0 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 3 | 0 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | Win | 3–0 | ![]() | TKO | 2 (4), 2:39 | 3 February 2017 | ![]() | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | ![]() | TKO | 4 (4), 0:34 | 29 January 2014 | ![]() | Fought before 2014 Super Rugby season. [72] |
1 | Win | 1–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 (4), 2:59 | 8 February 2013 | ![]() | Professional debut |
The Queensland Reds is the rugby union team for the Australian state of Queensland that competes in the Southern Hemisphere's Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996, they were a representative team selected from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland. With the introduction of the professional Super 12 competition they moved to a model where players are contracted to the Reds through the Queensland Rugby Union rather than selected on the basis of club form.
Radike Samo is a retired Australian rugby union player. He plays lock, flanker, number 8 and can even play on the wing.
Berrick Steven Barnes is a former Australian professional rugby union footballer. His usual position is fly-half or inside centre. He is previously played with Japanese Top League clubs Panasonic Wild Knights and the Ricoh Black Rams, as well as in the Super Rugby competition with the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds. He also played for the Wallabies in international matches.
Adam Ashley-Cooper is a former Australian rugby union player who last played for the LA Giltinis of Major League Rugby (MLR). He has won 121 caps for Australia, the third most of any Australia player at the time of his retirement. His nickname is "Mr. Versatile". He is currently the senior assistant coach for backs with the LA Giltinis.
Adam Freier is a rugby union footballer. In 2011 and 2012 he played for the Rebels in the Super Rugby competition, and retired at the end of 2012 from professional rugby. In 2015 he came out of retirement to play Shute Shield for Randwick until this day. His usual playing position is hooker.
Kerry Cooper Vuna is a professional rugby footballer who plays on the wing for Newcastle Falcons in Premiership Rugby. He played rugby league as a wing for the New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League competition, before switching to rugby union to play Super Rugby for the Melbourne Rebels.
Digby Ioane is an Australian professional rugby union footballer who played for the Colorado Raptors in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Kurtley James Beale is an Australian professional rugby union representative player who has made over 90 national representative appearances in a ten-year playing career at the world-class level. He is of Aboriginal descent, has had a long Super Rugby career with the New South Wales Waratahs and has played for the Melbourne Rebels and the Wasps club in England. Beale usually plays at full-back or centre but can play fly-half or winger. In 2011 Beale received the John Eales Medal, awarded to Australian rugby's Player of the Year.
Israel ‘Isileli Folau is a professional dual-code rugby player who plays as a fullback for Japan Rugby League One club Urayasu D-Rocks. Born in Australia, he represents Tonga at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.
Ewen James Andrew McKenzie is an Australian professional rugby union coach and a former international rugby player. He played for Australia's World Cup winning team in 1991 and earned 51 caps for the Wallabies during his test career. McKenzie was head coach of the Australian team from 2013 to 2014. He has coached in both southern and northern hemispheres, in Super Rugby for the Waratahs and Reds, and in France at Top 14 side Stade Français. During his playing days he was a prop and, in a representative career spanning from 1987 to 1997, he played nine seasons for the NSW Waratahs and two for the ACT Brumbies.
Sanchez William Genia is a professional rugby union player, currently playing scrum-half for the Kintetsu Liners in Japan. He had previously played Super Rugby for the Queensland Reds (2007–2015) and Melbourne Rebels (2018–2019). He also had previously played for Stade Français in France's Top 14 from 2015 to 2017.
Matthew Papali'i To'omua is an Australian rugby union professional player who has played close to 60 times for Australia since 2013. He plays for the Mitsubishi Dynaboars in the Japanese League One and his usual position is at fly-half or inside centre. He has previously played for the Brumbies in Australia, for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby and for Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby.
James David O'Connor is an Australian professional rugby union footballer who currently plays for Queensland Reds in Super Rugby. He made his international debut for Australia in 2008 at the age of eighteen. He has played for the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby. In 2013 he played for English Premiership side London Irish, and in the 2014–15 season he moved to France to play in the Top 14 competition for Toulon. His regular playing positions are Fly-half, Centre, Fullback and Wing.
Michael Harris is a professional rugby union football player for Pau in the Top 14. He has also been capped ten times for Australia. Harris began his career in 2007 with North Harbour in New Zealand's ITM Cup before moving to Australia in 2011. He played for the Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby and then joined French club Lyon for two seasons from late 2016. He moved to Japan for the 2018–19 season.
Ben Tapuai is an Australian professional rugby union playerwho currently plays for Bordeaux Bègles in the French competition Top 14. Tapuai grew up in Melbourne and is of Samoan heritage. His playing position is centre.
Dominic Shipperley is a retired professional rugby union footballer who played for the Australian national team in both test rugby and rugby sevens. In Super Rugby, he played four seasons with the Queensland Reds from 2011 to 2014, and a further two seasons for the Melbourne Rebels. His regular playing position was wing.
Nick Frisby is an Australian international rugby union player who plays with the Western Force in Super Rugby AU. His regular playing position is scrum-half.
Angus Roberts is a professional Australian rugby union player for the Melbourne Rebels. His preferred positions are fullback and flyhalf.
Tautalatasi Tasi is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who currently plays for the Houston SaberCats in Major League Rugby (MLR). He also plays as a wing for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby. He previously played rugby league for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League. He plays at wing, centre and second-row.
Liam Wright is an Australian professional rugby union player who captains the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby. He also plays for Queensland Country in Australia's NRC. His usual position is flanker. He has been capped for Australia at international rugby.