Quade Cooper won't enjoy a chance to play sevens for Australia in Sydney this weekend. Photo / Getty
Quade Cooper has been left out of Australia's squad for this weekend's Sydney leg of rugby's Sevens World Series despite flying in from France.
Former Wallabies playmaker Cooper, who is attached to French club Toulon, arrived in Sydney on Wednesday, three days before the tournament, but misses the chance to
make his national sevens debut with no place found for him in the 12-man squad to play at a sold out Allianz Stadium.
"Due to circumstances which were beyond Quade's control and our control, he just couldn't get enough work in this week with the team," new Australian Sevens head coach Andy Friend said.
It's the first big selection call for Friend, naming his first squad since taking the helm but he said his hand was forced because of Cooper's severely limited preparation time.
"There is no doubt in my mind that he will be a tremendous addition to the squad as we build towards Rio," Friend said.
