Kintetsu Liners fly-half Quade Cooper has undergone minor surgery for a long-standing heel injury.
Wallaby Cooper, 36, posted an update on his Instagram after undergoing a procedure in Australia.
The 2011 Super Rugby Champion had a bone spur on his left heel shaved down, an issue which has been bothering him for several years.
Cooper made 13 appearances for the Osaka-based Liners last season but - despite a talismanic display - was unable to prevent them from being relegated to the second tier after back-to-back losses to Urayasu D-Rocks.
The veteran playmaker and his long-time club and international teammate Will Genia will both return next season to try and help the club return to the top-flight at the first attempt.
Cooper, who also runs his own clothing label, SHOSAI, also commented this week on his international future.
The 2019 signing from the Melbourne Rebels said that while he would still be keen to play for Australia, he feels that the team has moved on and it’s time for other players to come through for his country.
Cooper’s club side has been boosted by the eye-catching signing of All Black Akira Ioane from Super Rugby winners, the Blues, while lock Mitchell Brown has joined from Yokohama and full-back Hiroki Kumoyama has been recruited from Suntory.
Lock Sam Jeffries has joined from the Green Rockets in addition to NSW Waratahs' Australian fly-half Will Harrison. Former Japan sevens international Timo Sufia has left Hokkaido Barbarians for Osaka. Toyota Verblitz fly-half Rintaro Maruyama and Shizuoka Blue Revs prop Shintaro Okamoto have also moved to Higashiosaka.
Japan international Semisi Masirewa, 32, has also confirmed that he’ll be staying with the Hanazono outfit.
Picture courtesy of Kintetsu Liners
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