Thursday’s rugby news has Quade Cooper confirming his Toulon move, Queensland Reds sign Goromaru, Cheika calling for the Wallabies to improve and All Blacks return home.
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Quade Confirms Toulon Move
Quade Cooper has officially joined Toulon amid speculation he was going to remain with the Australian Rugby Union.
Cooper’s new contract, however, includes a clause which will allow him to play for the Australian Sevens team if he is called up for next year’s Olympics.
“If he (Cooper) is called he will be immediately freed,” said Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal.
“He knew how excited I was about coming to Toulon and representing my country at the Olympic Games,” Cooper said.
“So for me the immediate goal is to get out and play well for Toulon.
“But I am just happy and grateful for the opportunity to go to an Olympic Games which would not have been possible prior to this.”
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Reds Sign Goromaru
“His recent goal-kicking percentage sits at or above 80 per cent, an area in which the Reds are looking to improve in 2016.
“He is a quality player who will add depth to our outside backs
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Wallabies must Improve
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has asserted that the Wallabies must improve as they can not hope for other teams to drop their standards.
Cheika and the Wallabies arrived home yesterday and were met by the applause of enthusiastic fans at the airport.
“Our goal is to improve, not to be waiting for other teams to go worse because of this or that reason,” Cheika said on arrival.
“I don’t think they (New Zealand) will (get worse), they’ve got so much depth over there.
“I think they will only improve as well.
“I’m in to 2017 and for me it’s irrelevant whether I’m on to 2019 or 2017, or 2016, I want to do the best so the team is in the right position to keep getting better in the future.”
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AB’s Return Home
The All Blacks have been welcomed back home to New Zealand for the first time after securing the World Cup in England.
Many players were also photographed leaving the Platinum Lace gentlemen’s club after celebrating early Monday morning before their flight home.
The All Blacks were met by 4000 fans at Auckland airport and a haka from the flight crew.
“The support’s been amazing, so to bring this back is pretty awesome,” McCaw said.
“Glad to be home, it’ll be nice to be in your own bed, we’ve been in 12 different hotels since we left,” he said.
“But we’re going to enjoy the next few days going around the country and saying thanks.”
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