Australian citizen, a requirement set by the International Olympic Committee. He had previously been travelling on a New Zealand passport while playing internationally for Australia. In July 2021, Cooper complained that he was still unable to become an Australian citizen despite living in the country since the age of thirteen. On 14 September 2021, after Cooper had rejoined the Wallabies and helped win a 2021 Rugby Championship match against the Springboks, Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced that greater flexibility for residency requirements for citizenship would in future be allowed for the "most highly distinguished prospective Australians" due to their "unique work and travel demands", although he didn't mention Cooper explicitly. Cooper subsequently passed the Australian citizenship test on 3 December 2021 and was officially granted Australian citizenship on 24 February 2022. Controversies In December 2009, Cooper was charged with burglary after allegedly taking two laptops from a residence on the Gold Coast. The charges were withdrawn after mediation with the complainants. In August 2011, Cooper was accused of deliberately kneeing Richie McCaw in the face, after McCaw had targeted Cooper off the ball, at the 2011 Tri Nations test, but at the subsequent SANZAR judicial hearing in Brisbane the charge was dismissed. In September, Cooper tweeted comments on the Wallabies’ set-up, which included criticising the defensive style and lack of player input under coach Robbie Deans, inadequate training and recovery facilities, and a "toxic environment". He also said he would not play for the Wallabies under those conditions. As a result, Cooper was fined a record $60,000 (of which $20,000 was a 2-year suspended sentence) and given a suspended three-match Wallabies ban. It was thought that the incident would prompt Cooper to abandon Australian rugby. However, he recommitted to the Reds and ARU. Statistics Club rugby union International rugby union Professional boxing record Awards and recognitions 2005 Australian Schoolboys national rugby union team tour 2006 Australian Schoolboys national rugby union team tour 2007 Australia national under-19 rugby union team 2007 Queensland Reds rugby union team début 2008 Australia national rugby union team début Awards: 2010 Investec Bank Super 14 Australian player of the series. Australia's Greatest Athlete (season 3): series winner 2011 Super Rugby Champion 2011 Tri Nations Champion References External links Quade Cooper at Wallabies Quade Cooper at ItsRugby.co.uk Quade Cooper at ESPNscrum Reds profile Living people 1988 births Australian rugby union players New Zealand Māori rugby union