Rugby star Quade Cooper re-signs with Australian Rugby Union

Australian rugby star Quade Cooper on Thursday re-signed with the Australian Rugby Union for 12 months contract, until the end of the 2012 season.

The move ended speculations that Cooper will be switching to rugby league and playing for the Parramatta Eels in the 2011 National Rugby League season, or to join a French rugby club.

Finalizing his one-year contract extension with the Australian Rugby Union means that Cooper will stay as the central hub of the Queensland Reds rugby club until 2012.

Cooper, 23, who has helped fire the Queensland Reds to the top of the Super rugby standings this season, said he was pleased to have the deal settled.

"It's an exciting time to be part of Australian rugby, with the Reds going so well and the World Cup coming up, so I'm glad everything is now squared away," he told Fox Spots on Thursday.

"The vibe within the Reds team and the support we're getting from our fans is incredible and I'm proud to be part of it going forward.

"It's about focusing on football and moving forward. I just want to keep improving as a player and I felt that the Reds was the best place to do it."

Cooper said he could now focus on the rest of Queensland's 2011 Super Rugby campaign.

Meanwhile, Queensland Rugby chief executive Jim Carmichael had always been confident of re-signing Cooper and said he was instrumental to the future of the franchise.

"Quade is an integral part of this organization, both on and off the field, and is exactly the type of young man we are targeting to ensure rugby in Queensland remains strong and vibrant," Carmichael said.

ARU has already secured the services of 16 other Queensland Reds playerd to play in the 2011 Rugby World Cup to continue what it said to be the start of a new golden era for the twice world champions.

Source: Xinhua

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