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Major League Rugby

'Like leaving the pub' - Adam Ashley Cooper puts retirement off with new MLR deal

By Josh Raisey

26 Feb 2021

Adam Ashley-Cooper of Australia celebrates scoring his teams opening try during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Quarter Final. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Former Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper has compared his rugby career to leaving a pub, after signing for Major League Rugby’s LA Giltinis this week.

After prolonging his extensive career for at least another year, the 121-cap back wrote on Twitter: “Starting to realise that “retirement” is a little like leaving the pub…..”

“I’ll stay for one more.”

Starting to realise that "retirement" is a little like leaving the pub…..
I'll stay for one more 😂
🍸
— Adam Ashley-Cooper (@AdamCoopy) February 26, 2021

The Australian seems to have a predilection for cocktail-based rugby teams, having signed for the Austin Gilgronis last year, although the season was ended prematurely due to Covid-19.

Ashley-Cooper will be teaming up with former Waratahs and Wallabies teammate Dave Dennis in California, as well as Billy Meakes.

At the age of 36, this latest move staves off the prospect of retirement for another year and adds another twist to a career that has also seen the versatile back play for Bordeaux Begles in France and the Kobelco Steelers in Japan.

Welcome to LA, @AdamCoopy. ✌️🌴#Giltinis #MLR2021 @usmlr pic.twitter.com/ZAXSEJf3Ma
— LA Giltinis (@Giltinis) February 25, 2021

His Test career also spanned between 2005 and 2019 and saw him play in four World Cups. He had a stint away from the national team after the 2015 tournament in order to play in France, but returned in 2019. Given the way his career has panned out, a return to the Wallabies looks unlikely, but he is a player that seems to be eternal.

With the experience he has and the ability to cover fullback, wing and outside centre, Ashley-Cooper is a very useful asset to have.

The 2021 MLR is set to begin on March 20th where the LA Giltinis will face the New England Free Jacks, and the season is to run until August.

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Comments on RugbyPass

SS 45 minutes ago

Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

Don't get too excited about your victories over the ABs. 1 point in the RWC, then 4 and 6 in the RC, with an SA try that should never have been given. And they scored 4 tries in one game through your much vaunted defense.

60 Go to comments

JW 58 minutes ago

Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

Was Jordie Barretts the first test against B&I Lions? He was outstanding in that and showed the same raw instinct and skills JAS did. He, like Wright, did go on to show he didn't have the experience or the temperament to know when to use them after that of course, I'm not sure that JAS looks like he'll have that same problem.

146 Go to comments

SS 59 minutes ago

Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

I remember the good old days of the All Blacks being able to do that. On our way again, but slowly

60 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

I don't think you necessarily want to do that Francisco. Coaching the "gift" out of Jordan Petaia was one of the main reasons for his decline, and no doubt his decision to look to another sport.

Then on top of that you have the picture of three games before you first lions test, so you don't have enough to time to "bed in a more friendly interface" really. You could lean on it by moving the pieces around, and possibly different personal around it, but think it would be more wise to let it play out. It will be hard for Schmidt to hold himself back though.

146 Go to comments

Bruiser 1 hour ago

Veterans return for All Blacks as team to play France named

Canes well past his best. Ardie will shine. He has played 7 all season in Japan

13 Go to comments

NH 1 hour ago

Battle of the breakdown to determine Wallabies’ grand slam future

Nice one John. I agree that defence (along with backfield kick receipt/positioning) remains their biggest issue, but that I did see some small improvements in it despite the scoreline like the additional jackal attempts from guys like tupou and the better linespeed in tight. But, I still see two issues - 1) yes they are jackaling, but as you point out they aren't slowing the ball down. I think some dark arts around committing an extra tackler, choke tackles, or a slower roll away etc could help at times as at the moment its too easy for oppo teams to get quick ball (they miss L wright). Do you have average ruck speed? I feel like teams are pretty happy these days to cop a tackle behind the ad line if they still get quick ball... and 2) I still think the defence wide of the 3-4th forward man out looks leaky and disconnected and if sua'ali'i is going to stay at 13 I think we could see some real pressure through that channel from other teams. The wallabies discipline has improved and so they are giving away less 3 pt opportunities and kicks into their 22 via penalty. Now, they need to be able to force teams to turnover the ball and hold them out. They scramble quite well once a break is made, but they seem to need the break to happen first... Hunter, marika and daugunu were other handy players to put ruck pressure on. Under rennie, they used to counter ruck quite effectively to put pressure on at the b/down as well.

3 Go to comments

SS 1 hour ago

Ex-Ireland legend slam players' 'showboating' against the All Blacks

Yes, probably why he still annoys me even now

4 Go to comments

GS 1 hour ago

Why Finn Russell 'edges' Marcus Smith in race for the Lions 10 shirt

"Edges" it? Really? Marcus Smith is a great stand off, but he isn't fit to lace Russell's boots. That is no slur on Smith, but in every aspect of the game, Russell is better. Put it this way, if Russell was English they would have beaten the All Blacks and Australia comfortably.

2 Go to comments

Head high tackle 2 hours ago

Regardless of the France result Razor's All Blacks have proved something

Graham, if you cant celebrate the wins whats the point of playing the game? I think most would have happily taken 3 from 4 on this tour and winning would be icing but losing just 1 test is still Cake. Its been a season of lost opportunity no matter the result. 3 tests and no real gains from a experience for the newbies perspective. I do get that winning is everything but a few more squad members getting bigger minutes would have been great. Either way, providing the B side doesnt lose to Italy it will be a OK year.

5 Go to comments

BH 2 hours ago

Four changes for France as Galthie names team to host All Blacks

No mention of Matthieu Jalibert refusing to play against New Zealand because he would've been on the reserves list. What a sooky cry baby. That is utterly embarrassing and shows he has a poor, selfish attitude.

4 Go to comments

BH 2 hours ago

Argentina's Felipe Contepomi dimisses All Blacks' win over Ireland

Poor headline to be honest. Makes it look like Contemponi is disrespecting New Zealand, which he clearly is not. He does the opposite.

3 Go to comments

Otagoman II 2 hours ago

Jake White: If I was England coach, I’d have been livid

In regards to the obstruction empahsis on kicking, the receiving team has to clear a path to where the ball is going that one of their team is going to take. If the kicking team member runs into another player that will not mean they gain a penalty unless a direct path to the receiver is blocked.

I suspect the change was brought about to make this aspect of the game safer as chasers will not be bumped into creating a dangerous fall for the player leaping. A good example of this was the red card for a French player against the ABs a few years back. He clattered into B Barrett taking his legs from out under him and landing on his neck/head. Upon review for the citing committee they agreed that ALB had checked the French player causing him to go off course and take Barrett out. No suspension resulted and the red card rescinded. The metric to judge the worth of this change is to see if dangerous falls lessen or not.

Thanks for the article.

8 Go to comments

Head high tackle 2 hours ago

Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

DM should start and have the game decided by the starting 15. I can just see everyone blaming Dmac and Ratima because they come on with 15 to go and cant make up the 2 try deficit they face. Dmac needs to leave. Make the coin whilst he is in his prime.

8 Go to comments

SM 3 hours ago

Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

BB should be back and he should play the 80,Dmac reminds me of the story about the emperor having no clothes on how he got player of the day ahead of Jordan or J Barrett must be for not losing or maybe coal kicking 🤔

8 Go to comments

Hellhound 3 hours ago

Jake White: If I was England coach, I’d have been livid

The English biggest problem is that whole board. They need to change it, because all they've shown is how incapable they are of running a business which ultimately it is.

The players they choose for the team isn't even the best players in England. There is better players out there just as you suggested and I've said in one of my responses.

This was a well written no nonsense article. An eye opener. Let's hope they read your articles. There is a lot they can learn from someone like you. Just don't dare leave my Bulls as a coach. 2 URC Finals and no cigar. You'd better give those boys gas when they screw up. We want that URC title this year👍

8 Go to comments

LRB 3 hours ago

Veterans return for All Blacks as team to play France named

Love the username, fu¢king brilliant.! 😁

13 Go to comments

OJohn 3 hours ago

Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

The Tahs are like that. I wouldn't describe Rennie as honorable. He betrayed his own country after all.

146 Go to comments

GL 3 hours ago

Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

Hope BB can survive the French defense and that Abs don't many tricky, corner kicks which BB will not make