Adam Ashley-Cooper signs two year deal with Bordeaux
Photo: Werner Nysschen Phoyography
NSW Waratah veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper has signed a two-year contract with leading French club Bordeaux Begles.
Ashley-Cooper, who has earned 46-caps for the NSW Waratahs and 104 test caps for the Wallabies in an already impressive rugby career, will make the move to the Top 14 French team following the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
“I am very excited to announce that I have signed with top 14 French team Bordeaux and thoroughly look forward to beginning the next chapter of my career and facing the new challenges that the French competition provides”, said Ashley-Cooper.
“Bordeaux is a beautiful part of the world with a strong club history and strong support. I can’t wait to be a part of their future post RWC 2015. I am very attracted to their style of play and love the direction the club is heading in with strong recruitment across the squad.”
Known as one of the most versatile utility backs in Australian rugby, 30 year-old Ashley-Cooper, was appointed vice captain of the Wallabies earlier this year and played a key role in the NSW Waratahs 2014 Premiership win. The 2015 Super Rugby season will be his tenth and final year with the NSW Waratahs.
“I have been so grateful to have had a great career here in Australia. I’d like to thank the ARU and the NSW Waratahs for all their support over the past decade,” he said. “The next chapter of my rugby career is due to that support.”
NSW Waratahs Coach Michael Cheika was quick to praise Ashley-Cooper upon hearing the news.
“Adam has been such a great contributor to the NSW Waratahs and we are really happy to see him pursue his ambitions in this next phase of his career and to experience life in Europe,” he said. “I have no doubt that his teammates will want to make his last season a memorable one.”
For Ashley-Cooper, there is still much to accomplish in the 2015 season before he moves to France, namely the 2015 Super Rugby Championship with the NSW Waratahs.
“I’d also like to add that even though there’s much excitement about a new start in life, it doesn’t distract from my sole focus on being a part of the Waratahs going back-to-back for Super Rugby Championships and being the first Australian rugby team in history to do so,” he said, adding that he hoped to also achieve his dream of winning his first Rugby World Cup with the Qantas Wallabies.
Taking up rugby as a 15 year-old on the NSW North Coast, Ashley-Cooper signed his first professional contract at the age of 19 with the Brumbies; before making his debut for the NSW Waratahs in 2005 against the Crusaders. He made his test debut for Australia that same year against South Africa. Ashley-Cooper still holds the record for fastest hat-trick in Rugby World Cup history, scoring three tries in eight minutes, and remains the only player to feature in every minute of a full Rugby World Cup campaign of seven matches.
Adam Ashley-Cooper
Position: Centre
Height: 182cm
Weight: 98kg
DOB: 27/03/1984
Place of Birth: Sydney NSW
Senior Club: Northern Suburbs
Super Rugby Caps: 124 [NSW 46, ACT 78]
Super Rugby Points: 103 (20t, 1d), [Brumbies 70 (14t); NSW 33 (6t, 1dg)]
Super Rugby Debut: 2005 v Crusaders
Test Caps: 104
Test Debut 2005 v South Africa
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