Wednesday’s rugby news has Quade looking overseas, Hodgson staying put, Tahs sweating on Potgieter’s health and some Welsh coaching uncertainty.
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Quade linked with Top 14
Quade Cooper is reportedly being aggressively courted by Toulon, with his rugby future set to be decided in the next two weeks. Cooper is currently sidelined for eight weeks with a shoulder injury, and he will use the opportunity to visit Toulon with his manager, Khoder Nasser. It seems like Cooper’s recurrent injuries and uncertain Test standing have contributed to his desire to leave.
“When there are so many things in limbo, then you have to look at what’s best for you,” Cooper said. “I can only look at what’s set in stone. The French clubs want a decision pretty quickly.” One factor which might give pause is the pedigree of Toulon’s current fly-half options Frederic Michalak, Matt Giteau and Juan Martin Hernandez.
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Hodgson re-signs
Captain Matt Hodgson will continue his career with the Western Force as he extends his contract through to the end of the 2016, with the option of a further season in 2017. Hodgson, who along with Pek Cowan remain the only current foundation players, claimed his third Player of the year award in 2014, and returned to the Wallabies squad as captain against the Barbarians recently.
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Potgieter questionable
The Waratahs will be sweating on the fitness of Jacques Potgieter who has injured his ankle at Tuesday’s training. The team doesn’t have training today and will reassess the South African back-rower’s availability on Thursday, with Pat McCutcheon likely to run on in his place.
The Tahs, meanwhile, are feeling a fair amount of pressure to re-sign a number of key players for next year. While Michael Cheika and Daryl Gibson have sured up much of the 2016 roster, there remains a lingering uncertainty about the futures of captain Dave Dennis and Wallabies backs Bernard Foley, Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau
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Gatland’s future uncertain
Welsh coach Warren Gatland has suggested that his long-term future in the position could be threatened by the departure of outgoing chief executive Roger Lewis. But WRU chief Gareth Davies has unambiguously stated that Gatland should stay at the helm for at least the next four years. “Warren has got a contract until 2019 so I’m confident he’s going to fulfil it,” said the former Wales captain.
Gatland’s dissatisfaction may also affect the other Test coaching positions, with Davies revealing that the New-Zealand born coach will ultimately decide if defence coach Shaun Edwards and forwards coach Robin McBryde stay beyond the World Cup when their contracts expire.
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