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Australia fly-half Quade Cooper has signed a two-year contract to play for French champions Toulon, the club announced on its website on Friday.
Capped 52 times by the Wallabies, the 27-year-old Cooper will join his new team-mates during the summer to prepare for the 2015-16 season.
In particular he will link up with former Australia playmaker Matt Giteau, who has been instrumental in guiding the French club to this season’s European Rugby Champions Cup final.
He [Cooper] is coming to Toulon to become the player that the whole world wants to see
Toulon chairman Mourad Boudjellal
The wealthy Cote d’Azur side are currently seeking a second straight Top 14 and European Cup double.
“He has been a player we have been keeping an eye on for several years now, and would have arguably been rated the best player in the world after the last World Cup were it not for injury,” Toulon chairman Mourad Boudjellal said.
“At 27 years old he is coming to Toulon to become the player that the whole world wants to see.”
Cooper is currently playing for the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby competition, but he broke a shoulder blade in a game earlier this month and will be out of action for up to two months.
The playmaker has endured two injury-blighted seasons and has consequently dropped down the Wallabies pecking order.
He was sidelined for three months after fracturing his collarbone in training in January and was out for 16 weeks last year with a shoulder joint injury.
Cooper suffered his latest shoulder injury in making a tackle in his second game back for the Reds after recovering from the collarbone injury.
He becomes the latest Australia international to announce a move overseas after this year's World Cup in England, following established test players Will Genia, James Horwill and Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Earlier this week, the Australian Rugby Union announced a major change to its test squad selection policy five months before the World Cup.
With immediate effect, overseas-based Australia internationals who have played more than 60 Tests for the Wallabies and held a professional ARU contract for at least seven years will be available to head coach Michael Cheika.
Previously, all overseas-based players were ineligible to be picked, and the move could now open the door to an international recall for some top players based in Europe.


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Rugby World Cup 2015

Wallaby Quade Cooper signs for French giants Toulon

Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper (left) will join French Top 14 outfit Toulon next season. Photo: AFP

Sport

Rugby

Australia fly-half Quade Cooper has signed a two-year contract to play for French champions Toulon, the club announced on its website on Friday.


Super Rugby 2015

European Rugby Champions Cup