Rugby Wallabies face to against Japan on October 23

Quade Cooper is unlikely to feature in all four end of year Tests, with the club and country issue resurfacing.

While the Wallabies named Cooper, as well as fellow Japanese-based stars Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon, in their end of year spring tour last week, it is no fait accompli they will all tour to the United Kingdom.

Cooper is expected to feature against Japan on October 23, while Kerevi remains an outside chance of lining up against the Brave Blossoms after sustaining an ankle injury against Argentina earlier this month.

McMahon, who left immediately after The Rugby Championship to re-join his family in Japan, will miss the match after being granted permission to leave their bubble.

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Brave Blossoms to Play Australia’s Wallabies in Japan

The Japan Rugby Football Union is delighted to announce that the Japan Men’s National Team are set to play the Wallabies on October 23, at Showa Denco Dome in Oita, on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu. Host to five Rugby World Cup 2019 matches, the stadium is familiar to both teams, with Australia having played its World Cup pool match against Uruguay in 2019, and Japan taking on Italy in 2018 at the Oita venue.

But their availability is in the balance, with the sensitive subject of playing international rugby for your country whilst another nation’s competition and club owners are paying your wages.

“Players will need to quickly realise that clubs pay them what they do and recruit them because the risk of international rugby isn’t there, so they get them for the whole program,” one European based Wallaby told foxsports.com.au.

“They might see opportunities drying up when you factor a dozen extra international games a year.”

Conversations are still taking place with Rugby Australia over Cooper’s involvement on the Wallabies’ first spring tour since 2018.

It’s understood the governing body is hopeful he will take part in at least two of the three Tests in the United Kingdom, with the Wallabies to play Scotland, England and Wales in consecutive Tests in November.

The Test against England on November 14, in particular, is being targeted as one where the Wallabies want their best available side.

The Wallabies have not beaten England since the 2015 World Cup, a run of seven straight defeats against Eddie Jones’ side.

Just last week, Cooper took to social media to deny he had agreed to turn out for the Barbarians against Samoa on November 27 – a fixture Wallabies coach Dave Rennie will be involved in.

“At no stage have I agreed to play for the Barbarians in the upcoming game against Samoa. I’m contracted to the Kintetsu Liners,” he posted on Twitter.

Rennie attempted to diffuse the situation upon announcing his spring tour squad, saying the Barbarians had “jumped the gun” on their announcement.

“We’d spoken to Quade, but he’s got a club to go back to,” Rennie said.

“We’re obviously keen for him to tour and stay another week, but obviously that makes it a little more difficult. He was certainly interested but he hadn’t committed. All good, no damage done.”

source https://rugbystream.us/rugby-wallabies-face-to-against-japan-on-october-23/