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Quade Cooper makes bizarre technical comeback to satisfy loophole
By AAP
Quade Cooper's long-awaited comeback for Kintetsu Liners proved tactical, and lasted for just one minute as the regular season of Japan Rugby League One was completed.
In front of a surprised crowd, the Wallabies star left the field as soon as the first stoppage in play, straight after the kick-off at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka yesterday.
Kintetsu made the unusual move due to the competition rules, which state a player must feature in at least one game of the regular season to be eligible for the two-legged Replacement Battle.
The Wallaby star, who was returning after rupturing his achilles tendon in August, was not hurt in contact and left the field unaided, with a quizzical look on his face.
Although Cooper is now eligible for his side's first game of the promotion/relegation series on May 7, the ploy didn't help Kintetsu as they tumbled to a 43-26 defeat against the NEC Green Rockets, for whom former Wallaby halfback Nick Phipps was a try-scorer.
The loss confirmed Kintetsu's place as Division One wooden spooners.
This means Cooper, and his long-time halves partner Will Genia, now face former Test teammate Israel Folau in the survival contest, after Urayasu D-Rocks beat Wallaby fullback Tom Banks' Mie Honda Heat to secure top seeding from Division Two for the series.
Folau was also on the comeback trail, having not played since mid-January, but he made a successful return, playing the final 30 minutes for D-Rocks.
Despite two tries from Banks, Urayasu maintained their unbeaten record for the season.
Former Wallaby flanker Liam Gill matched his countryman's effort, with his double leading D-Rocks to a convincing 48-28 win.
The third of the relegation ties will see Matt Toomua and Curtis Rona's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars play Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi.
The former Wallaby pairing and their Dynaboars teammates will take some confidence into that series after re covering from a 24-point halftime deficit against Ric oh Black Rams Tokyo.
Sagamihara closed to 24-21 before former England loose forward Nathan Hughes scored his third try of the game to get the Black Rams home 31-21.
The Fijian-born Hughes, who is now eligible for his homeland, has been in dominant form and scored nine tries in his final five games of the season, to put himself on the radar of Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui.
At the top of the table, Wallaby winger Marika Koroibete was a try-scorer as Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights beat Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo 34-22 to eliminate Todd Blackadder's team from the playoffs, while securing top seeding for Robbie Deans and his men.
The first semi-final is on May 13 where Saitama will play Springbok Faf de Klerk's Yokohama Canon Eagles, who beat Kobelco Kobe Steelers 52-26.
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Latest Comments
Don't think you've watched enough. I'll take him over anything I's seen so far. But let's see how the future pans out. I'm quietly confident we have a row of 10's lined uo who would each start in many really good teams.
Go to commentsHopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
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