Hunt and Cooper reunited at club rugby
NEWS: Wallabies and Reds utility back Karmichael Hunt will make his return to rugby alongside fellow Reds’ discard Quade Cooper.
Hunt is set to line up for Brisbane club side Souths, it will be the first time he’s played since he was arrested in December last year.
A charge of illicit drug possession was dropped in February but Hunt pleaded guilty on separate charges of possessing a dangerous drug (Alprazolam) and contravening a police direction and was fined 300 Australian dollars for each offence.
Hunt had been free to return to rugby for a few months but has been left on the sidelines by Queensland Reds head coach Brad Thorn, who has also made Cooper surplus to requirements.
“Looking forward to lacing up the boots again for @SouthsRugby!” Hunt said on Twitter.
Quade Cooper responded with “Welcome to the nest. I’m sure you will receive all the help, support & love that the family at @SouthsRugby has provided me. ?”
Welcome to the nest. Im sure you will receive all the help, support & love that the family at @SouthsRugby has provided me. 🖤 https://t.co/oahzuzhUpZ
— Quade Cooper (@QuadeCooper) July 6, 2018
Souths president Tony Shepley revealed that Cooper approached the club to offer “assistance” to Hunt.
In a letter to members of the club, Shepley added “Karmichael has essentially been in isolation and unable to play rugby for some time now. That is potentially not a good thing for someone who has been involved in team sport for as long as he has,”
“It was put to us that for his own wellbeing he be given an opportunity to redeem himself on and off the field. He has to be involved in a club and playing rugby somewhere to do that.
“I think as a club we are about providing those kinds of opportunities to whoever has need for them and not about kicking someone when they are down,”
