Quade Cooper targets Australia return for 2027 Rugby World Cup after insisting ‘I never retired’

Veteran Australia fly-half Quade Cooper has reopened the possibility of playing at the 2027 Rugby World Cup after making it clear he has not formally retired from international rugby.

The 38-year-old, who has won 80 caps for Australia, was widely expected to have ended his playing career after accepting a coaching role with Japanese club Kintetsu Liners for the 2025-26 season.

However, Cooper said his decision to move into coaching did not amount to retirement and that he remains interested in representing the Wallabies at the tournament, which will be staged on home soil.

“The thing is I never retired, I just had other opportunities that presented themselves and at the time when I was deciding do I want to keep playing, I was very mentally tired,” he told The Australian.

Cooper was then asked directly whether he would consider returning to the Australia squad for the 2027 World Cup. His response was unequivocal.

“So am I interested? I mean, who wouldn’t be, it’s a home World Cup and I still know I can play.

“So, of course, I’m interested, along with every other ex-player and every other up-and-coming young guy. I’m sure that everybody wants a piece of it in some way.”

The comments have added another dimension to Australia’s ongoing search for a settled fly-half. The Wallabies used nine different players in the number 10 position during the past year under former head coach Joe Schmidt, who left the role after the team’s most recent Test against Italy.

Australia’s new head coach Les Kiss has selected Carter Gordon, Ben Donaldson and Declan Meredith as his fly-half options for this month’s Tests against Japan.

Kiss has, however, avoided making firm predictions about who might hold the position when Australia host the World Cup in 2027. His immediate focus is on assessing the current group during the upcoming fixtures.

“The first two Tests, I’ve got three 10s that will lead the way for us,” Kiss said. “Whatever I do after that is another question, but for now I’m just focused on what I have to do with this team.”

Cooper’s potential return would give Australia an experienced option in a position where consistency has proved difficult to find. He has previously been a prominent figure in the Wallabies set-up and remains confident that he can contribute at the highest level.

Although his coaching appointment with Kintetsu Liners suggested he had moved on from playing, Cooper’s latest comments indicate that the door remains open to a return. With the 2027 Rugby World Cup still ahead, he has said he is interested in competing for a place alongside established internationals, former players and emerging young talent.

For now, Australia will work with Gordon, Donaldson and Meredith during the Tests against Japan, while Cooper’s future remains undecided. His declaration that he “never retired” ensures that his name will remain part of the discussion as the Wallabies continue to develop their plans for a home World Cup.