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Adam Ashley-Cooper set for Super Rugby return

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 Wallabies veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper is returning to Australia.

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The 34-year-old has signed a one-year deal with the Waratahs for the upcoming Super Rugby campaign in a bid to push for a fourth World Cup appearance in Japan later this year.

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With 117 test caps and a Super Rugby title under his belt, Ashley-Cooper is set to add ample amounts of experience to a Waratahs side that is aiming to better their semi-final finish last year.

He returns to the side of which he claimed a Super Rugby crown with in 2014, coming in as the second major signing made by the Waratahs over the off-season, following the acquisition of discarded Wallabies utility back Karmichael Hunt last month.

“My desire to continue to play top-tier rugby and further my development is as strong as ever,” he said in a statement on the Waratahs’ website.

“The Waratahs presented this opportunity to me and I jumped at the chance to reunite with the Sky Blue jersey.

“The challenge I have ahead of me is not being taken lightly. I will put everything into this 2019 season to see the team build toward something special.”

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Ashley-Cooper expects to make an impact from the midfield, but said that his ability to play across the backline should benefit the Daryl Gibson-coached side.

“I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of movement across the backline throughout the season, which there always is so I’m guessing I’ll find myself anywhere, given the opportunity if the selection is there but I’m happy to wear any number on my back,” he told rugby.com.au.

“Daryl knows that as long as it’s what’s best for the team.”

Ashley-Cooper said a move back to Australia from Japanese club Kobelco Steelers made sense given the altered structure of the Top League in 2019 due to the World Cup.

“I guess when I left Australia a few years ago, I didn’t think that I’d make it back but just with the way the competition’s structured next year in Japan and there’s no Top League before the World Cup, I wasn’t really too keen to be sitting around on my hands for nine or 10 months.

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“There’s another opportunity to win a Super Rugby title with the Waratahs because I’ve got great memories of 2014 and what that felt like but then also to get to another Rugby World Cup and win the thing.”

Rugby World Cup city guide – Kumamoto:

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Nickers 29 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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