Friday Round-Up

Return of Quade: Australian head coach Ewen McKenzie has handed an international recall to mercurial playmaker Quade Cooper ahead of next weekend’s Bledisloe Cup clash. The Wallabies take on Rugby Championship winners New Zealand in little over a weeks time, with the Bledisloe trophy already secured by the All Blacks. With news emerging of yet another disciplinary issue for Waratahs back line member Kurtley Beale this week, Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper returns to the international fold. Despite not playing for the national side in this calendar year, 26 year old Cooper is a personal favourite of head coach McKenzie and having successfully recovered from a shoulder injury suffered in May, makes his comeback onto the international scene. With a hearing into the Beale disciplinary case impending, Cooper will for the meantime be competing with Waratahs ten Bernard Foley for the flyhalf slot, with Beale absent from the squad as he awaits the verdict. Aside from Cooper, there are four debutants in the squad, with Kyle Godwin, Tetera Faulkner, Henry Speight and Tom English all included.

Mulchrone Extension: London Irish have today confirmed the news that centre Fergus Mulchrone has put pen to paper on a new contract at the club, which will see him remain at the Madesjki for another two seasons. Having joined the Exiles back in 2013, the Irish and English qualified midfielder has been hugely impressive and has played 28 times for the club. Having been brought in from English Championship outfit Rotherham, Mulchrone’s game has come on leaps and bounds under the tutelage of Brian Smith and has formed a formidable midfield partnership with fellow Irishman Eamonn Sheridan, both on a defensive and attacking front. Mulchrone has started all five games of the Premiership campaign to date.

Ryan Sheady