Waratahs confirm talks with Adam Ashley-Cooper for 2019

Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:13 AM
Iain Payten
by Iain Payten
Adam Ashley-Cooper is in talks with the Waratahs to return in 2019. Photo: Getty Images
Adam Ashley-Cooper is in talks with the Waratahs to return in 2019. Photo: Getty Images

The Waratahs have confirmed they are in talks with Adam Ashley-Cooper about signing the 116-cap Test centre for the 2019 Super Rugby season.

NSWRU boss Andrew Hore expressed the club's interest in Ashley-Cooper as he also revealed the Waratahs' home game schedule for next season - which will include games at the SCG and regional and suburban venues - is close to being announced.

It emerged in March that Ashley-Cooper was contemplating coming coming home from Japan, where he has been playing for the past two years following a move to France after the 2015 World Cup.

With the Japanese season shutting down due to the 2019 World Cup being hosted in the country, Ashley-Cooper is keen to return to Super Rugby and have a crack at earning a spot in the Wallabies squad for the tournament.

It would be a record-equalling fourth World Cup and Michael Cheika has said he would consider AAC if he was playing Super Rugby and in form.

"Adam Ashley-Cooper has expressed an interest," Hore said.

"We think in a year such as a World Cup year, where depth is going to be important, that we can see merit in Adam coming back. Everyone speaks highly of his character so leadership is a valuable asset. 

"Those discussions are live so we will see where that goes."

Ashley-Cooper would likely be on a cut-price contract given NSW are one of the clubs operating at the lower end of their salary cap.

Hore said on contract negotiations with Bernard Foley and Israel Folau that "we feel from our end that things are close".

"We are hopeful things are imminent there," Hore said.

"And we hope that will set us up in a strong manner."


With Allianz Stadium now officially closed and an exit agreement finalised for the Waratahs, Hore said an announcement of where the Tahs would play in 2019 was also imminent.

Deals are yet to be fully nailed down but Hore said after canvassing a wide range of parties on where to take their games, the feedback was to play at a mix of venues in the west, in regional areas, suburban venues and - given they have a contract - at the SCG too.

The field will be flipped around and run east-west at the SCG, as Sydney FC will do this summer, to give better side-on views from the stands.

Brookvale Oval will also be one of the venues but Hore said there was a balance to be struck of smaller grounds and established venues.

"(Brookvale) is one of the options, but there are others as well, your Leichhardts and those kinds of fields," he said.

"But it has got to be of a standard too, where people can get a beer and so on.

The Waratahs are playing at Brookvale Oval. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley"We run the Shute Shield final here and it’s a fantastic event and people can put up with some of the issues in and around that venue (North Sydney Oval) for a one-off.

"Playing there regularly, I think people would get a little tired of it."

Hore said the Waratahs also planned to take several games to regional venues, and not just at the larger locations like Wollongong or Newcastle.

"We have met with a number of councils in here, who have put forward a number of proposals. It is an opportunity for us to be quite innovative over the next three years and give something back to regional NSW," he said.

 
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