5 Feb 2016

No room for Quade Cooper

11:45 am on 5 February 2016

Playmaker Quade Cooper has been left out of Australia's squad for this weekend's Sydney leg of rugby's Sevens World Series despite flying in from France.

The former Wallaby, who is attached to French club Toulon, arrived in Sydney on Wednesday, three days before the tournament, but has missed the chance to make his national sevens debut, with no place found for him in the 12-man squad.

A social media blooper has Quade Cooper in more trouble.

Former Wallaby Quade Cooper has missed out on the Australian sevens squad. Photo: Photosport

"Due to circumstances which were beyond Quade's control and our control, he just couldn't get enough work in this week with the team," new Australian Sevens head coach Andy Friend said.

It's the first big selection call for Friend, naming his first squad since taking the helm but he said his hand was forced because of Cooper's severely limited preparation time.

"There is no doubt in my mind that he will be a tremendous addition to the squad as we build towards Rio," Friend said.

"Quade is going to get his opportunities during the series and we are really excited to have him here in our group and with us throughout this preparation."

"He'll spend the weekend embedded with the squad as well, that contact is a really important part of his learning process in a different version of the game."

Former Wallabies winger Henry Speight comes in for his first sevens tournament on home soil while star back Cameron Clark also returns.

The return of some of the team's more experienced campaigners will boost their chances in a strong Pool A that includes New Zealand, Canada and Portugal.

-AAP