Quade Cooper Appeal Rejected

Australia’s Quade Cooper has been ruled out of the next two Tri-Nations games against fierce rivals New Zealand after his appeal against a two-match ban was rejected.

The Wallabies’ star playmaker was handed the ban for a dangerous tackle and that was upheld after his appeal was rejected – meaning he will miss the two upcoming Bledisloe Cup Tests.

Cooper was challenging the severity of his two-week ban for a spear tackle on South Africa counterpart Morne Steyn in last weekend’s big win over the Springboks.

But, after a marathon six-hour teleconference, the SANZAR appeals committee comprising of Peter Hobbs (New Zealand, chair), Terry Willis (Australia) and Peter Ingwersen (South Africa), ruled against the in-form number 10.

The decision is a crushing blow to the Wallabies’ Tri Nations hopes with the gifted 22-year-old set to miss matches in Melbourne and Christchurch in the coming fortnight.