Quade Cooper has had his fair share of online criticism but he took to Twitter to speak out over the issue of cyber bulling after it affected him in a tragic way.
Cooper tweeted a moving tribute to family member Kopani McIroy, a 13-year-old who took his own life after being the victim of online bullying.
While not wanting to distract from the Wallabies World Cup preparations, with the team's opening match against Fiji on September 24, Cooper told Fairfax Media he felt it was important to use his profile to take a stand on a worrying issue.
"It just saddens me to think that a kid, at such a young age, could think that's the only way, or the only option to stop bullying. It's just brushed over so frequently," Cooper said.
"I can remember playing totem tennis with him just a few years ago at my aunty's unveiling (a Maori custom where a headstone is unveiled after a funeral). He really was just the nicest kid."
Cooper is familiar with the potential cruelty of social media trolls and said keyboard warriors needed to think about the consequences of their actions.
"People feel they can say nasty things but how can they know what damage is being done? For the people doing the bullying, there are no real consequences until something tragic happens," Cooper said.
RIP young Kopani.. As the pain and suffering of the gutless bullies eases may the love of your kind spirit live on.. #StopBullyingForKopani
— Quade Cooper (@QuadeCooper) September 16, 2015
