The last two weeks which should have been a quiet time for rugby in Oz but was ruffled by some weird claims about two young guns in Australian rugby. First we had Quade Cooper who was arrested for apparently stealing some electronic equipment from a property at the Gold Coast! The following courtecy of Rugyheaven.com.au:

WALLABIES star Quade Cooper says he wants to continue playing professional rugby while his lawyers prepare to reveal the truth behind his pending burglary charge.

The 21-year-old Test and Queensland centre yesterday appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court over the alleged burglary of a residence in Surfers Paradise on December 6.

He intends to plead not guilty.

Cooper seemed bewildered and nervous as he entered court one, where solicitor Angelo Venardos requested the case be set down for a committal hearing next year.

Outside court, Venardos told the media there was more to Cooper’s story. He said he had not seen any evidence from police and his client ”absolutely” maintained his innocence.

”We are hoping the truth will prevail,” he said. ”There is a lot more to this story. It’s not as if Quade and someone else has jumped in their car with balaclavas and housebreaking implements and come down the Gold Coast.

”I’d just ask people not to pre-judge the circumstances. It’s a watch-this-space situation. There’s a lot more to come out yet.”

Asked if he wanted to continue playing, Cooper said: ”Definitely. I’d love to play football. That’s what I love to do. I hope everything works out for the best.”

And then this morning on the news, Curtley Beale to appear in Court on some assault charges. According to the news this relates to an incident that happened in June/July of this year and a cousin who went to the Police after he attacked her!

Well, I suppose on the bright side it keeps Rugby in the news…