No return date set for Quade as Wallabies playmaker reveals road to RWC

Quade Cooper says his rehabilitation from a ruptured Achilles has been “great”, but the playmaker “can’t say” when he will return to the playing field, writes theroar.

Cooper played less than an hour of Test rugby in 2022, as his Test season was cruelled first by a calf niggle in the minutes before the Wallabies’ season opener against England and, later, by a season-ending Achilles injury suffered in the second half against Argentina in the first match of The Rugby Championship on August 7.

With just five Test before the Wallabies’ World Cup opener against Georgia in Paris on September 9, it means Dave Rennie will have very little time to establish combinations across his backline.

Rennie is banking on Cooper being fit and ready for the tournament opener.

“I haven’t set a date,” Cooper told reporters before the Wallabies broke up following a four-day training camp on the Gold Coast.

“I’m not too worried if I play or don’t play, the goal would be to be able to play for my Japanese club.

“We’ve got a fair few games ahead of us. The season is a whole lot longer than the previous three seasons that I’ve been a part of, so there’s plenty of football to be played.”

Pressed on whether fans should get excited about the prospect of seeing him pull on the boots before the Wallabies’ season opener against the Springboks in South Africa, Cooper remained tight-lipped on a return to play date.

“I honestly can’t say,” Cooper insisted.

“And that’s not me trying to sort of play hide and go seek or anything like that. It’s just that I genuinely don’t know.

“Ideally, I’ll be playing some football in Japan for my club Kintetsu Liners and that’ll be the best possible outcome.

“If I’m able to do that, I’ll be in a place to be selected for the TRC based on my performances.”

Cooper said he planned to start running by the end of the month but gave hope of appearing sooner rather than later by saying his rehab has been a “smooth journey” thus far.

“This type of injury, in my opinion, has been one of the easiest I’ve had throughout my career,” he said.

“It’s just a time thing. The first three months are the most difficult part where you have to sit relatively still and find ways to continue to improve as an athlete and find ways as a person to enjoy your life with the confines of being on crutches and a little scooter, which is very helpful.” 

Full story via theroar