Quade Cooper
Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper will be sidelined for 10 to 12 weeks after suffering a fractured collar bone during a training session at Ballymore Stadium on Thursday.
The 26-year-old playmaker, who was out for 16 weeks in 2014 due to an AC joint injury, will have surgery on Tuesday to repair the fracture, which occurred around the previous operation site.
Cooper’s AC joint injury occurred against the Rebels in May last year when he fell awkwardly on his left shoulder in a tackle.
The decision to operate was made Friday, after scans and a consultation with the Reds’ surgeon.
“It’s disappointing to lose Quade to such an innocuous collision during an opposed training session, but this is the nature of contact sport,” Reds head coach Richard Graham said.
“Fortunately, we’ve recruited well in the off-season and we’re comfortable we have a number of options available to us.”
Cooper said: “I’m gutted to be missing the start of the season, but injury setbacks are something you learn to deal with and this isn’t the first time I’ve had to come back from something like this.
“There’s a lot of excitement among the group for the season, so it’s good motivation for me to give myself every chance of getting back on the field as soon as possible.”
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