Quade Cooper could be joining Paul O’Connell in Toulon after all

Quade Cooper will be moving on after all

The Australian out-half's club, Queensland Reds, have ended negotiations on a new contract, with Toulon set to swoop for the player. The European champions, who are on a fearsome recruitment drive this summer, having added Ireland skipper Paul O'Connell and South Africa number eight Duane Vermuelen, are known admirers, with owner Mourad Boudjellal claiming the player had signed a contract and pictures emerging of Cooper in a Toulon jersey last April. https://twitter.com/RCTofficiel/status/591541276455149568 "QRU has been flexible in its attempts to retain Quade, offering significant remuneration and being understanding of his boxing ambitions and supportive in relation to the possibility of sabbatical options," Reds boss Jim Carmichael said. "We have come to the difficult decision that the investment we have made previously and were prepared to continue to make has not been recognised, particularly when taking into account our commitment to him over a very long period of time. "As a consequence, we are no longer prepared to be involved in any further discussions as this will leave the organisation further exposed." [h/t Planet Rugby]