Latest news with #touchrugby
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Quade Cooper was Aussie rugby's biggest star - now his shock social media post shows how far he's fallen from the peak of the game
A recent social media post from former rugby union star Quade Cooper shows just how much his life has changed since the peak of his footy career. The 37-year-old playmaker finished up with Japanese club Kintetsu Liners this year and has recently taken up a the challenge of playing American flag football. Flag football, the non-contact cousin of American football, will make its Olympic debut in LA – and Cooper is hoping to win gold. On Thursday, the footy star took to X to offer his services to touch footy teams on the Gold Coast after returning to Australia recently. 'If there's any local touch rugby comps on the Gold Coast at the moment that need players? HMU [Hit me up],' he posted on X. Footy fans were stoked that the Wallabies legend could potentially play on their team for free. If there's any local touch rugby comps on the Gold Coast at the moment that need players? HMU — Quade Cooper (@QuadeCooper) June 25, 2025 'I don't think anyone wants to play against you man but that would be a dream,' replied one fan. Last week, Cooper played flag football for Australia in a match held in Los Angeles. '20yrs ago I played my first professional game against Japan and today I play my first game against Japan in LA. Crazy full circle moment. Forever connected to Japan,' he posted to X. Turning out to play touch against amateurs is a million miles away from the fly-half's career peak after he made his Wallabies debut in 2008 and went on to play 80 Tests for Australia, scoring 208 points. Cooper first rose to prominence as a talented schoolboy when on scholarship at the Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane. Cooper played in the 'Churchie' first XV in 2005 and 2006 and was quickly snapped up by the Queensland Reds after finishing high school. Along with fellow young guns Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor, Cooper was viewed as an excitement machine at the time as the Wallabies looked to once again become a force in world rugby. The New Zealand-born playmaker has also dabbled in professional boxing and dated the likes of model Laura Dundovic, champion Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice and socialite Nicole Shiraz. He also had his controversies over the years, the most notable of which was copping a $40,000 fine and three-match suspension for describing the Wallabies as a 'toxic environment ... destroying me as a player and a person' in 2012. Cooper was controversially overlooked by former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones in 2023, bringing to an end his stint with the national team. Right now - in addition to getting a few games of touch footy - he is determined add the title 'Olympian' to his list of achievements. 'To be part of something that could potentially change the landscape for a lot of people in our country, all around the world, give them an avenue to play in a sport at the Olympics, is pretty special,' Cooper said. His passing wizardry and knack for flair have already earned him highlight reels on social media – skills that suit the quarterback role perfectly. And he's not looking to go it alone. Cooper has a wishlist of elite Aussie athletes he hopes will join him, including NRL stars Reece Walsh, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and cross-code talent Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. 'You look at guys like Reece Walsh, like the Hammer… the way they move, the way they're able to accelerate, how dynamic they are,' he said. 'These are guys who play on both sides of the ball. It's not a contact game, but just the awareness to be able to know how someone moves, be able to defend them.' The non-contact game involves five players per side, using flag belts instead of tackles – making it faster, safer, and more accessible. 'For a lot of people who love and want to participate in rugby or league or AFL, that's very similar – a lot of skills and attributes of the game that I love so much,' Cooper said. 'But to be able to do that and not have the head knocks, the broken bones and the collisions – I look at it from all aspects like that, and this is pretty exciting to be part of.'
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Listen: Super League, Championship and League 1 commentaries
Update: Date: 13:46 BST Title: Get Inspired: How to get into rugby league Content: Fast Answers Why get into rugby league? It's a great sport to build up strength, stamina and fitness, as well as making friends and socialising. Who is it for? With so many versions of the game, there is something to suit everyone, regardless of your age or gender. Is there a cheap option? Grab a rugby ball and some friends and head to the park for a game of touch rugby. See below for more info. What if I want a proper workout? Join a club to commit to playing and training on a weekly basis to really build up your strength and stamina. Can I take it to another level? There will be various teams at your local club so give them a call and see when they are next holding trials. Am I too old? No, Masters Rugby League allows players above the age of 35 an opportunity to keep turning out. Is there a disability option? There is Physical Disability Rugby League for players with a physical disability. In addition, wheelchair rugby league allows disabled players of both genders to play together. Is there a family option? Touch or tag rugby league is a fun, non-contact version of the sport suitable for all ages to play together. This video can not be played Rugby League: "the speed of an Olympic sprinter and the impact of a car crash"
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hove rugby festival celebrates 100 days until World Cup 2025
Over 100 girls from schools across Sussex are set to take part in a touch rugby festival on Wednesday to celebrate 100 days until the start of the Women's World from 13 primary schools will take to Hove Rugby Club in a bid to get more girls into the sport ahead of the competition beginning in England in will host two games in the world cup, including one of England's group stage games, with the competition beginning on 22 Brown, chairwoman of Hove Rugby Club, said: "As a host city the excitement is just building and we can't wait to welcome the teams and supporters." She added that it was "important" for the club to support the local community and rugby in festival comes as momentum builds behind the tournament, with over 275,000 tickets sold according to event will be attended by representatives of Premiership Women's Rugby club Harlequins and rugby and mental health charity Maddy's Women's World Cup trophy will also visit Sussex from Saturday to Monday as part of a national tour of the host cities ahead of the trophy will be in place at the Brighton i360 on 17 May before moving to Haywards Heath Rugby Club on 18 May and back to the i360 on 19 & Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey said: "We are so excited to be welcoming the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup trophy to the city this weekend, and we hope residents across the city will join us to celebrate this historic moment."We are incredibly proud to have been chosen as a host city for the prestigious tournament, which will raise the profile of women's sport and showcase our sporting city on the world stage."The Amex Stadium at Falmer will host two games in the group stages of the competition with the Red Roses facing Australia on 6 September and current holders New Zealand playing Ireland on 7 recently won their fourth straight Six Nations Grand Slam and enter the competition having lost just one game since March 2018 - the World Cup final in November 2022 against New tickets for the tournament are also set to be released at 09:00 BST on Wednesday.
