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Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein skyline viewed from Signal Hill
Nickname(s): The city of roses
Bloemfontein
Coordinates: 29°06′S 26°13′E / 29.1°S 26.217°E / -29.1; 26.217Coordinates: 29°06′S 26°13′E / 29.1°S 26.217°E / -29.1; 26.217
Country	South Africa
Province	Free State
Municipality	Mangaung
Established	1846[1]
Area[2]
• Total	333.69 km2 (128.84 sq mi)
Elevation	1,395 m (4,577 ft)
Population (2001)[2]
• Total	328,773
• Density	990/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2001)[2]
• Black African	72.6%
• Coloured	5.0%
• Indian	0.2%
• White	22.2%
First languages (2001)[2]
• Sotho	36.5%
• Afrikaans	25.0%
• Tswana	19.0%
• Xhosa	14.3%
• Other	5.2%
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)
Area code(s)	051

Bloemfontein ( /ˈblʊmfɒnteɪn/, Dutch for "fountain of flowers" – lit., "blooms") is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.

Bloemfontein is popularly and poetically known as "the city of roses", owing to the abundance of these flowers and the annual rose festival held there.^[3][4] The city's Sesotho name is Mangaung, meaning "place of cheetahs" and it has been included in the Mangaung Local Municipality since 2000^{[dated info]}.

Bloemfontein is situated on dry grassland at 29°06′S 26°13′E / 29.1°S 26.217°E / -29.1; 26.217, at an altitude of 1,395 m (4,577 ft) above sea level. The city is home to 369,568 residents, while the Mangaung Local Municipality has a population of 645,455.

History[link]

Bloemfontein, circa 1900.

Though historically a predominantly Afrikaner settlement, Bloemfontein was officially founded in 1846 as a fort by British army major Henry Douglas Warden as a British outpost in the Transoranje region, at that stage occupied by various groups of peoples including Cape Colony Trek Boers, Griqua and Basotho. Although modern day Bloemfontein has a reputation for its flowers in an otherwise arid region, the origin of the city's name is unclear. Popular legends include an ox named "Bloem" owned by one of the pioneer farmers that was taken by a lion near a fountain on his property, while another story names Jan Blom (1775–1858), a Korana KhoiKhoi leader who inhabited the area.^[5] Bloemfontein literally means fountain of flowers or flower spring in Dutch. With colonial policy shifts, the region changed into the Orange River Sovereignty (1848–1854) and eventually the Orange Free State Republic (1854–1902). From 1902–1910 it served as the capital of the Orange River Colony and since that time as the provincial capital of the Free State. In 1910 it became the Judicial capital of the Union of South Africa.

Founding and early days[link]

Warden originally chose the site largely because of its proximity to the main route to Winburg, the spacious open country, and the absence of horse sickness. Bloemfontein was the original farm of Johannes Nicolaas Brits born 21 February 1790, owner and first inhabitant of Bloemfontein. Johann – as he was known – sold the farm to Maj Warden.^{[citation needed]}It is located in South africa , Martim Reymao

1854–1898[link]

The old Raadsaal in Bloemfontein, with the statue of Christiaan de Wet

As the capital of the Orange Free State Republic the growth and maturing of the Republic resulted in the growth of the town. Numerous public buildings that remain in use today were constructed. This was largely facilitated by the excellent governance of the Republic (which acquired the term model republic) and the compensation from the British for the loss of the diamond rich Griqualand area.^{[citation needed]}

A railway line was built in 1890 connecting Bloemfontein to Cape Town.

The writer J. R. R. Tolkien was born in the city on 3 January 1892, though his family left South Africa following the death of his father, Arthur Tolkien, while Tolkien was still a child (1895). He recorded that his earliest memories were of "a hot country."

Second Anglo-Boer War/South African War[link]

In 1899 the city was the site of the Bloemfontein Conference, which failed to prevent the outbreak of the Second Boer War. The conference was a final attempt to avert a war between Britain and the South African Republic. With its failure the stage was set for war, which broke out on 11 October 1899.

The rail line from Cape Town provided a centrally located railway station, and proved critical to the British in occupying the city later.

On 13 March 1900, following the Battle of Paardeberg, British forces captured the city and built a concentration camp nearby to house Boer women and children. The National Women's Memorial, on the outskirts of the city, pays homage to the 26,370 women and children as well as 1,421 old men^[6] (Also 14,154 black people, though some sources feel that the records are unsatisfactory, and that this number could be as high as 20,000^[7]) who died in these camps in various parts of the country.^[8]

Recent history[link]

Until 1994 the city was the sole judicial capital of South Africa. It remains the seat for the Supreme Court Of Appeal (formerly the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court) and is therefore generally regarded^[who?] as the judicial capital. It is also an administrative centre with many private hospitals and educational institutions.

Government[link]

Bloemfontein forms part of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, which was upgraded from a Local Municipality in 2011.

Geography and climate[link]

Bloemfontein is located in central South Africa on the southern edge of the Highveld at an elevation of 1,400 metres (4,600 ft), bordering on the semi-arid region of the Karoo. The area is generally flat with occasional hills (koppies in Afrikaans) and the general vegetation is Highveld grassland. Bloemfontein experiences a semi-arid climate, with hot summer days (Jan: max:32 °C (90 °F) min:19 °C (66 °F); frequent afternoon thunderstorms) and cooler, dry winters, often with frosts (July: max:14 °C (57 °F) min:−3 °C (27 °F)). Snow is uncommon but as recently as August 2006 it snowed in the city, with snowfalls occurring again at the airport on 26 July 2007.

Suburbs[link]

Replica Eiffel Tower in an industrial area next to Batho

Bloemfontein suburbs include Heidedal to the east and southeast, Bainsvlei, Woodland Hills Wildlife Estate, Bayswater, Brandwag, Ehrlichpark, Fauna, Fichardtpark, Fleurdal, Gardeniapark, Generaal De Wet, Hospitaalpark, Kiepersol, Langenhoven Park, Lourierpark, Park West, Pellissier, Uitsig, Universitas, Westdene, Wilgehof and Willows to the south of the city. To the north of Bloemfontein, you will find Langenhovenpark, Arboretum, Bayswater, Dan Pienaar, Helicon Heights, Heuwelsig, Hillsboro, Hillside, Hilton, Naval Hill, Navalsig, Noordhoek, Pentagon Park, Panorama Park,Waverley. The predominantly black suburbs are; Rocklands, Phahameng, Phelindaba, Bloemanda, Bochabela and the most historic Batho where the Maphikela House (where the African national Congress – ANC started) is situated.

Sports[link]

Stadia[link]

The Free State Stadium and the surrounding sports complex is the main sports venue in the city and province. The venue was the hosting stadium of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa matches played in Bloemfontein. There are several other sports venues in the city, however, including facilities belonging to the university, schools and sports clubs.

Football[link]

Free State Stadium

Bloemfontein is joint home (together with nearby Botshabelo) to Premier Soccer League team Bloemfontein Celtic. Some of the matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup were played at the Free State Stadium, including the historic 4–1 defeat of England by Germany in the round of 16.

Rugby[link]

Bloemfontein's Free State Stadium is home to two rugby union teams; the Central Cheetahs franchise who compete in Super Rugby and the Free State Cheetahs who play in the domestic Currie Cup. The Free State Cheetahs won the Currie Cup in 2005 against the Blue Bulls, they drew the final with the Blue Bulls in 2006 and retained the Currie Cup title in 2007 by beating the Golden Lions resulting in the Free State Cheetahs remaining Currie Cup champions until 2008 when the failed to make the final for the first time since 2004. 2009 saw the Cheetahs return to the Currie Cup final but they were unable to beat the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

Cricket[link]

The Knights cricket team representing the Free State and Northern Cape in various series is located at Chevrolet Park, part of the Free State Stadium complex. Bloemfontein features as a regular venue for touring international and local cricket teams.^{[citation needed]}

Soaring[link]

One of the most active soaring communities in South Africa and the world is using the New Tempe Airport north of Bloemfontein.^{[citation needed]}

Motor sports[link]

Bloemfontein has a motocross track run by the Bloemfontein Off Road Club, as well as a go-kart circuit (M&F Raceway), which is run by Bloemfontein Kart Club.

Education[link]

Bloemfontein offers many institutions of learning, from pre-schools to Universities and colleges. Classes are taught in different schools in different languages, some schools even teaching all classes in two languages. These languages are mostly Afrikaans, English or Sesotho.

Primary education[link]

• Grey College Primary School
• Bloemfontein Primary School
• Laerskool Universitas (TJOKKIES)
• Willem Postma Primary School
• Laerskool Sentraal Primary
• Rutanang Primary School
• Brebner Primary School
• Fichardt Park Primary School
• Jim Fouché Primary School
• Gonyane primary
• Morafe primary
• Legae primary
• Rekgonne primary
• Laerskool Dr Viljoen

Secondary education[link]

• St. Andrew's School, Bloemfontein|St. Andrew's School
• Grey College, Bloemfontein|Grey College Secondary School
• Eunice High School
• Bloemfontein High School
• CVO Skool Dankbaar in Bain's Vlei is a private Calvinist school, affiliated with the BCVO
• Hoërskool Fichardtpark in Fichhardtpark
• Technical High School Louis Botha
• Hoërskool Jim Fouché
• Hoërskool Sand du Plessis
• St. Michael's School, Bloemfontein|St. Michael's School
• Hoërskool Sentraal
• C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje
• Brebner High School
• Tsoseletso High School
• Kaelang Secondary School
• Heatherdale Secondary School
• Atlehang Senior Secondary School
• Hoërskool Dr Viljoen

Tertiary education[link]

There is a Further Education and Training College called Motheo FET College which comprises three main campuses(Thaba N'chu, Hillside view and Bloemfontein)and the satellite campuses in Zastron,Philippolis and Botshabelo.

The largest tertiary institutions in Bloemfontein are the of University of the Free State and the Central University of Technology. Private Colleges include Damelin, Boston City Campus, and the Qualitas Career Academy.

Recreational[link]

Part of the Sculpture Garden at Oliewenhuis Art Museum

Visitors to Bloemfontein have the unique opportunity to interact with cheetahs, lions, leopards, and tigers, as well as with other animals that have been rescued at the Cheetah Experience in the suburb of Bainsvlei, only 5mins from the centre of Bloemfontein..

One can also enjoy a day or a sleep over at the Bloemfontein Zoo. Zoo Snoozes are only one of the activities arranged by Friends of the Bloemfontein Zoo.

Boyden Observatory, a unique astronomy research and educational centre outside the city, offers public open evenings on certain nights during the year, arranged by the Friends of Boyden Observatory. Groups can also visit the observatory for exclusive evenings on appointment.

Atop Naval Hill is the Franklin Game Reserve. It was named after John Franklin, South African Senator, attorney and Mayor of Bloemfontein in the 1930s.

Media[link]

Newspapers[link]

• Free State Times
• Volksblad
• Ons Stad
• Bloemnuus
• The Weekly
• Courant

Radio[link]

• OFM
• Lesedi FM
• Motheo FM
• Med FM
• Radio Rosestad
• Radio Suid Afrika

Famous people[link]

Many famous persons are associated with Bloemfontein; these include:

• Allan Donald, South African cricketer
• Francois Steyn, rugby player
• Hansie Cronje, controversial South African cricket captain
• J. R. R. Tolkien CBE was born in Bloemfontein on 3 January 1892. Tolkien is famous for his fantasy epics The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. When aged 3, Tolkien left South Africa for England.^[11]
• Juan Smith, rugby player
• Leon Schuster, filmmaker, comedian and musician, born and schooled in Bloemfontein
• Morne van Wyk played for South Africa Proteas Cricket team^[12]
• Os du Randt, rugby player
• Ryk Neethling, Olympic gold medalist swimmer
• Shaun Morgan and Dale Stewart, musicians and founding members of the band Seether
• Zola Budd, international long distance athlete, born in the city and attended Sentraal High School
• Willem Jackson, played for South Africa Bafana Bafana soccer team
• Tony Kgoroge, South African actor, performances in movies including Hotel Rwanda, Blood Diamond, Invictus, Lord of War and Skin.
• Gerrit Badenhorst,is a powerlifter and strongman competitor.
• Lucas Maree, Afrikaans musician and songwriter
• Coenie de Villiers, Afrikaans musician and songwriter

Religion[link]

Bloemfontein has a large and diverse Christian population. The city houses several churches and denominations:

• It is the seat of the Anglican Diocese of the Free State
• Afrikaans Baptist Church (Afrikaans: Afrikaanse Baptiste Kerk)
• Dutch Reformed Church (Afrikaans: Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk)
• Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bloemfontein is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bloemfontein
• Seventh-day Adventist Church, Southern African headquarters.
• Christian Revival Church (CRC), is the largest church in bloemfontein with over 30 000 members. It has 40 daughter churches across South Africa, Europe, America & Australia. The church is led by Pastor At Boshoff, together with his wife Nyretta .
• New Covenant Ministries International led by Chris Gerber. Is a vibrant New Testament Church known by the name Fountainhead Church International.

Community Service Organizations[link]

• Round Table 158 Bloemfontein The first Round Table was formed in Norwich, England in 1927. The founder, Louis Marchesi, was a young member of Norwich Rotary Club who felt a need existed for a club where the young business men of the town could gather on a regular basis. At their meetings they could exchange ideas, learn from the experiences of their colleagues and play a collective part in the civic life of Norwich. From a very early stage it was agreed that Round Table would be a non-religious, non-political club and this has continued to this day.
• Child Welfare Bloemfontein Child Welfare Bloemfontein & Childline Free State is a non-profit organisation that was founded in 1914 by a group of volunteers who identified a need for welfare services among the community. In 2004, Child Welfare Bloemfontein celebrated its 90th birthday. Over the past 90 years, many community programmes have been successfully implemented.
• [1] FREEMASONS – The Masonic Centre, Bloemfontein, was built during the 1970s when all the Masonic Lodges in Bloemfontein, sold their individual properties. The Centre was erected to facilitate all Masonic activities in Bloemfontein and surrounding areas. All four Constitutions that is active in South Africa, gather at the Centre. The Lodges that has ownership of the Centre is Lodge Unie (est. 1864); the Rising Star Lodge (est. 1865); Thistle Lodge (est.1903); Emerald Lodge (est. 1905); Lodge Dagbreek (est. 1932) & Lodge Oranje (est. 1964). Various side degrees are catered for at the Centre which includes the Mark, Ark, the Royal Arch & Rose Croix. Bloemfontein has a rich Masonic history especially in the Anglo Boer War (1899–1902), with members such as Lord Kitchener, Rudyard Kipling and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, visiting Lodges in Bloemfontein.^{[citation needed]}

.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bloemfontein

• Bloemfontein The official Mangaung Local Municipality website

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Abram Louis Fischer, commonly known as Bram Fischer, (23 April 1908 Bloemfontein - 8 May 1975 Bloemfontein) was a South African lawyer of Afrikaner descent, notable for anti-apartheid activism and for the legal defence of anti-apartheid figures, including Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia Trial.

Tributes[link]

Fischer is widely acknowledged as a key figure in the anti-apartheid struggle.

Nelson Mandela wrote, Fischer was one of the "bravest and staunchest friends of the freedom struggle that I have ever known."^[1] From a prominent Afrikaner family, he gave up a life of privilege, rejected his heritage, and was ostracized by his own people, showing "a level of courage and sacrifice that was in a class by itself.^[2]

In Country of My Skull, Antjie Krog writes, "He was so much braver than the rest of us, he paid so much more, his life seems to have touched the lives of so many people - even after his death.”^[3]

In her account of her detention and solitary confinement by the South African Security Branch in 1963, Ruth First writes about being questioned about Fischer during an interrogation. She told her interrogators: "Bram is a friend, a very dear friend of mine, a wonderful man, and - thank God for the reputation of your people that you have at least one saving grace - he's an Afrikaner."^[4]

Fischer was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize in 1967.

In 2003 Fischer became the first South African ever to be posthumously reinstated to the Bar.

In 2004, despite opposition from alumni and management, Fischer was awarded a posthumous honorary degree by Stellenbosch University.

New College (University of Oxford), where Fischer was a student, holds an annual Bram Fischer Memorial Lecture to honour his legacy.

Family and Education[link]

Fischer came from a prominent Afrikaner family; his father was Percy Fischer, a Judge President of the Orange Free State, and his grandfather was Abraham Fischer, a prime minister of the Orange River Colony and later a member of the cabinet of the unified South Africa.^[5]

Prior to studying at Oxford University (New College) as a Rhodes scholar during the 1930s, he was schooled at Grey College and Grey University College in Bloemfontein, he was a resident of House Abraham Fischer which is named after his grandfather Abraham Fischer. During his stay at Oxford, he travelled on the European continent, including a trip in 1932 to the Soviet Union. In a letter to his parents during his trip, he noted similarities between the position of Russian farmers that he encountered along the Volga river and South African blacks.

In 1937, Fischer married Molly Krige, a niece of Jan Smuts; the couple had three children. One of their sons died of cystic fibrosis in adolescence.^[6] Molly herself became involved in politics and was detained without trial in the state of emergency declared after the Sharpeville massacre. In 1963, Bram and Molly were driving to Cape Town for their daughter's 21st birthday. Bram swerved the car to avoid hitting a speeding motorcyclist on the road. The car veered off the road and overturned into a river, causing Molly to drown. Bram was devastated and inconsolable, devoting himself more than ever to his secret life as a leader of the South African Communist Party (SACP).

Professional and political activies[link]

Fischer joined the South African Communist Party (SACP) in the 1940s and soon rose to leadership positions within the party. The SACP had a close relationship with the African National Congress (ANC) and in 1943, Fischer co-authored revisions to the constitution of the ANC. In 1946 he was charged with incitement arising out of his position as a leader of the SACP and the African Mine Workers' Strike of that year.^[7]

Alongside Issy Maisels and others, Fischer played an integral role on the defense team in the Treason Trial of 1956-1961 where Mandela and many other anti-apartheid activists were acquitted on 29 March 1961. In his autobiography, Mandela affectionately recalls Fischer reading the left wing publication New Age at his table during the trial proceedings.^[8]

Fischer led Nelson Mandela's legal defense team at the Rivonia Trial of 1963-1964. By a coincidence, Fischer had not being present at the raid on Liliesleaf, although he had in fact been part of the trusted Rivonia inner circle.^[9] A number of documents seized by authorities were in his handwriting.^[10]

Mandela and co-defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment sentence instead of the death penalty, which the state prosecutor Percy Yutar had been asking for. This was considered a victory for the defence. International pressure also played a role.^[11] At this time, Fischer's role as leader of the SACP was unknown even to his closest white friends.

After the verdict, Bram Fischer visited the Rivonia trial prisoners on Robben Island to discuss the question of an appeal in their case. Wishing not to protect the prisoners, he did not tell them of his wife’s death one week earlier. After the meeting, Mandela learned about Mrs Fischer's death and wrote to Fischer, a letter that his prison guards never delivered.^[12] A few days later Fischer was himself arrested, held in solitary confinement for three days and then released. On 23 September 1964, he was again arrested and joined the 12 white men and women facing charges of being members of the now illegal South African Communist Party.

Fischer was arrested in September 1964 and charged with the crime of membership of the SACP. He was released on bail to handle a patent case in London. He applied for bail to attend to his case. In his appeal to Court in the bail application he stated:

"I am an Afrikaner. My home is in South Africa. I will not leave my country because my political beliefs conflict with those of the Government."^[13]

Fischer returned to South Africa face trial despite pressure put in him to forego his £5,000 bail and go into exile. One day, after proceedings began, he did not arrive at Court and instead sent a letter to his counsel, Harold Hanson which was read out in court. He wrote:

"By the time this reaches you I shall be a long way from Johannesburg and shall absent myself from the remainder of the trial. But I shall still be in the country to which I said I would return when I was granted bail. I wish you to inform the Court that my absence, though deliberate, is not intended in any way to be disrespectful. Nor is it prompted by any fear of the punishment which might be inflicted on me. Indeed I realise fully that my eventual punishment may be increased by my present conduct..."

"My decision was made only because I believe that it is the duty of every true opponent of this Government to remain in this country and to oppose its monstrous policy of apartheid with every means in his power. That is what I shall do for as long as I can..."

"What is needed is for White South Africans to shake themselves out of their complacency, a complacency intensified by the present economic boom built upon racial discrimination. Unless this whole intolerable system is changed radically and rapidly, disaster must follow. Appalling bloodshed and civil war will become inevitable because, as long as there is oppression of a majority, such oppression will be fought with increasing hatred."^[14]

Fischer went underground to support the liberation struggle against apartheid. In doing so, went against the advice of Mandela, who had advised him to support the struggle in the courtroom, "where people could see this Afrikaner son of a judge president fighting for the rights of the powerless. But he could not let others suffer while he remained free. [...] Bram did not want to ask others to make a sacrifice that he was unwilling to make himself."^[15]

Fischer was struck off the advocate's roll in 1965 in a trial completed in his absence. Advocates Harold Hanson, Sydney Kentridge and Arthur Chaskalson defended him at the hearing.

Imprisonment and death[link]

Fischer carried on underground activities for almost a year. He was arrested in November 1965, nine months after his return to South Africa and after 290 days underground. In March 1966 he was put on trial for a second time on charges of furthering the aims of communism and conspiracy to overthrow the government. He was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was imprisoned in Pretoria Prison.^[16]

During his incarceration, he contracted cancer. A fall induced by the effects of the cancer in September 1974 left Fischer with a fractured neck, femur, partial paralysis, and an inability to talk. It was not until December of that year, that the authorities had him transferred to a hospital. When news of his illness was publicised, the public lobbied government for his release. Fischer was placed under house arrest at his brother's home in Bloemfontein in April 1975. He died a few weeks later. The prisons department had Fischer's ashes returned to them after the funeral and they have never been located.

Works about Fischer[link]

Burger's Daughter, a novel by Pulitzer prize and Nobel prize winner and fellow South African, Nadine Gordimer, is based on the life of Bram Fischer's daughter; he is the "Burger" of the title. Fischer is also the subject of Stephen Clingman's Bram Fischer: Afrikaner Revolutionary, which won the Alan Paton Award in 1999, and Martin Meredith's Fischer' Choice. South African director Sharon Farr's documentary, Love, Communism, Revolution & Rivonia - Bram Fischer’s Story, won the Encounters Film Festival Audience Award for Best South African Documentary in August 2007.

References[link]

17. Haasbroek, Hannes. (2011). ’n Seun soos Bram. Cape Town: Umuzi

External links[link]

• SACP bio of Bram Fischer, with picture
• Bram Fischer's "A Message from Underground"
• First Bram Fischer Memorial Lecture, by Nelson Mandela on June 9, 1995
• "The Rivonia Trial" - article by Sunder Katwala from The Observer, dated Sunday, February 11, 2001
• http://www.mg.co.za/article/2003-10-16-bram-fischer-reinstated-on-roll Bram Fischer on Roll
• http://www.lrc.org.za/Articles/Articles_Detail.asp?Art_ID=205 Bram Fischer posthoumusly reinstated to roll of attorneys
• http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1099930862755B216 Academic fight brews over honours for Fischer
• http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,9294,2-7-1442_1620129,00.html Fischer issue comes to a head
• [http://"The Problem of Communism in Southern Africa", in Paul Trewhela, Inside Quatro: Uncovering the Exile History of the ANC and SWAPO, Jacana Media, Johannesburg, 2009]

Quade Cooper

Full name	Quade S. Cooper
Date of birth	(1988-04-05) 5 April 1988 (age 24)
Place of birth	Tokoroa, Waikato, New Zealand
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Weight	92.5 kg (14 st 8 lb)[1]
School	Forest View High School[2] Anglican Church Grammar School[2]
Notable relative(s)	Sean Maitland
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Fly-half, Inside Centre
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2006 – present	Queensland Reds	68[2]	(434)[2]
Current local club	Souths[2]
correct as of 24 May 2012.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2008 – present 2007 2005–2006	Wallabies Australia U-19 Australia Schoolboys[1]	35	(65)

Cooper during 2011 World Cup

Quade S. Cooper (born 5 April 1988^[2]) is a New Zealand born Australian rugby union player.

He currently plays for the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby competition and the Australia national rugby union team, generally as fly-half.

Career[link]

Born in Tokoroa, New Zealand, Cooper attended Forest View High School, before moving to Australia in 2001. Once in Australia, Cooper was selected in the Australian Schoolboys squad in both 2005 and 2006 through playing a star role in the 1st XV squad at the Anglican Church Grammar School, where in 2005, they won the GPS (Greater Private Schools) championship. Contracted to the Reds after playing for the Australian Schoolboys at five-eighth he has represented Australia at schoolboy and Under-19 level. He has been in the high performance program working with the ARU-funded National Talent Squad, and representing Queensland and Australian Schoolboys.^[2]

Cooper became one of three young players to break the record for most Australian schoolboy caps.^[2] Cooper's first Super 14 try came 3 March 2007 when he was given the role as starting five-eighth to play the Lions at Suncorp Stadium. Cooper first start of the 2008 season against the Bulls, the Reds won 40–8 in a huge upset. In November 2008 Cooper came off the bench to make his international debut against Italy, scoring the winning try in a 30–20 win. As a mark of Cooper's progress, he was awarded the 2010 Super 14 Player of the Year Award.^[3]

Possible change to rugby league[link]

In August 2010 Cooper was rumoured to be considering a switch to rugby league and playing for the Parramatta Eels in the 2011 NRL season. This would have meant Cooper sacrificing his Wallabies' position.^[4] A figure of $850,000 was speculated,^[5] and Parramatta reportedly offered Cooper $1.5 million over three years.^[6] The issue was resolved in September when Cooper signed a one year deal with the Australian Rugby Union.^[6] He said, even though he found the Parramatta offer flattering, he still saw his future in rugby union. For 2011 he wanted to continue with the Reds, and hoped to continue with the Wallabies and represent Australia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.^[6]

Career highlights[link]

• Representative Honours: Australian Schoolboys Squad, (05, 06), Australian Under-19 Squad.^{[citation needed]}
• Queensland Debut: Queensland Reds vs Japan at Tokyo National Stadium Tokyo, 10 November 2006
• International Debut: Australia vs Italy at Padova, Italy, Saturday, 8 November 2008.
• Awards: 2010 Investec Bank Super 14 Australian player of the series.^[7]
• Championships: Super Rugby: 2011
• Tri-Nations Champions: 2011

World Cup[link]

Cooper's impressive form showed no sign of abating and he was named in the Wallabies 30-man squad for the 2011 World Cup. However, once in the tournament, Cooper failed to find the level of form previously showcased for the Reds and during the Tri-Nations. With the New Zealand public on his back, Cooper struggled in their semi-final against the All Blacks nudging the kick-off straight into touch.

However, in the bronze final against Wales, Cooper showed early signs of being back to his mercurial best playing at a quick tempo and showcasing his range of skills. But midway through the first-half, he was struck down by a knee injury which brought an abrupt end to his game. In the post-match press conference, Robbie Deans confirmed that he believed the injury to have been related to Cooper's anterior cruciate ligament.

Controversy[link]

In December 2009 Cooper was charged by police with burglary after allegedly taking two laptops from a residence on the Gold Coast.^[8] The charges were withdrawn after "completion of a justice mediation process with the complainants".^[9]

In August 2011, Cooper was accused of deliberately kneeing Richie McCaw in the face^[10] at the 2011 Tri Nations test, but at the subsequent SANZAR judicial hearing in Brisbane the charge was dismissed.^[11]

Personal life[link]

Cooper formerly dated Australian Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice after she attended the 2010 John Eales Award Ceremony with him.^[12]

Cooper is the cousin of New Zealand Rugby Union player Sean Maitland.^[13]

Personal life[link]