Former Wallaby Quade Cooper is switching codes – again – but this time, not for rugby.
The 37-year-old playmaker is set to take on a new challenge: representing Australia in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Cooper, who finishes up with Japanese club Kintetsu Liners mid-year, has his eyes firmly set on Olympic gold in a sport most Aussies are still learning about.
Flag football, the non-contact cousin of American football, will make its Olympic debut in LA – and Cooper wants in.
‘To be part of something that could potentially change the landscape for a lot of people in our country, all around the world, give them an avenue to play in a sport at the Olympics, is pretty special,’ Cooper said.
His passing wizardry and knack for flair have already earned him highlight reels on social media – skills that suit the quarterback role perfectly.
Former Wallabies star Quade Cooper has his eyes set on representing Australia in flag football at the LA Olympics
Flag football has a big following in Australia and cross-code footballers like Cooper will face stiff opposition for places in the squad
NFL superstars like Patrick Mahomes are set to represent the United States at the LA Games
And he’s not looking to go it alone. Cooper has a wishlist of elite Aussie athletes he hopes will join him, including NRL stars Reece Walsh, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and cross-code talent Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
‘You look at guys like Reece Walsh, like the Hammer… the way they move, the way they’re able to accelerate, how dynamic they are,’ he said.
‘These are guys who play on both sides of the ball. It’s not a contact game, but just the awareness to be able to know how someone moves, be able to defend them.’
The non-contact game involves five players per side, using flag belts instead of tackles – making it faster, safer, and more accessible.
‘For a lot of people who love and want to participate in rugby or league or AFL, that’s very similar – a lot of skills and attributes of the game that I love so much,’ Cooper said.
‘But to be able to do that and not have the head knocks, the broken bones and the collisions – I look at it from all aspects like that, and this is pretty exciting to be part of.’
The NFL has thrown its weight behind flag football’s Olympic debut, hinting at an American ‘Dream Team’ that could feature superstars like Patrick Mahomes. But Australia isn’t backing down.
Cooper is hoping to entice some big names in Aussie football to try out for the LA Olympics, including NRL convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
Brisbane Broncos fullback Reece Walsh is another big name Cooper believes would have what it takes
Hamiso Tabui-Fidow has the skills required to directly translate to flag football if he wants to compete at the Olympics
American Football Australia CEO Wade Kelly confirmed interest from high-profile athletes and a growing national program.
‘Quade’s an exceptional talent… chasing flag football gold in LA28 is something that is extremely exciting for them,’ Kelly said.
‘It’s getting increasingly competitive to be part of the AFA men’s and women’s flag football high performance program which is inevitable and a great thing for the program.’
The national squads heading to LA in June for an invitational tournament hosted by USA Football will be announced next week.
This comes as participation in flag football surges across Australia, with over 50,000 students now playing in schools and dozens of club teams competing nationally.
‘Our sporting superstars are fans of this sport already,’ Kelly said. ‘Recently we’ve had some of the biggest names in AFL and NRL reach out to us and ask how they might be able to play for Australia.’
Cooper’s own Olympic dream was dashed in 2016 when he missed selection for the Rio Games due to not having Australian citizenship, despite living in the country since 2001.
Now, with citizenship secured, he’s all-in.
‘I’ve finally got my citizenship, so then there’s no real hurdle apart from just ability, being able to lock in, do the work and get amongst it,’ Cooper said.
A veteran of over 70 Wallabies caps and a Super Rugby title, Cooper’s leap into a new sport isn’t just a comeback – it’s a reinvention.
‘I love NFL, everybody knows. I used to join in some of the local NFL, gridiron games in Brisbane during Covid,’ he said.
For Cooper, it’s not about leaving rugby behind – it’s about evolving.
‘If I can be one of the pioneers in that, great,’ he said. ‘It’s just something that I’ve always just loved.’
