Quade Cooper returns to training early as Reds ramp up preparations for Super Rugby season

HE'S on annual leave and has a boxing bout to focus on, but Quade Cooper has returned to Reds training ahead of schedule.

Quade Cooper has returned to training with the Reds. File photo

HIS second boxing bout is just weeks away and he's technically on annual leave yet Quade Cooper just can't help himself, returning to Reds training ahead of schedule.

It is a hunger found throughout the Reds group and one that has Reds coach Richard Graham frothing at the potential this season holds with captain James Horwill officially resuming training Tuesday morning, one week ahead of time.

The Reds squad, minus most Wallabies, returned to training this morning following two weeks holidays.

They had already trained for 11 weeks prior to Christmas.

Every member of the Reds who was on the Wallabies' Spring Tour has completed sessions since returning to Australia.

Quade Cooper will fight Warren Tresidder later this month in Brisbane. Picture: Peter Wallis

Cooper is only training part-time but considering he played nearly every minute of the Spring Tour it is a great show of his desire for a second Super Rugby premiership.

Graham said Cooper's January 29 boxing bout against Warren Tresidder at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre was not a distraction.

"Quade is not due back until next Monday and he has already done two sessions with us prior to Christmas and was back again yesterday," Graham said.

"There's always a good transference between form in the Wallabies tour and form going back into the Super Rugby season.

"The likes of Quade, Will (Genia) and James were all in form towards the back end of that tour.

"For Quade it was a period where he went through injury and then began playing a lot of rugby and really starting to enjoy it.

"He put a lot of time into his rugby and was light on his feet and that reflected in his performance.

Quade Cooper spars with Reds teammate Ben Tapuai last year. Picture: Annette Dew

"Rugby is his first priority. He knows his focus is here. Everything he has done has demonstrated he understands that."

Graham nominated front row and the midfield as the positions most up for grabs.

"I would like to think all positions are competitive," he said.

"If everyone is fighting for positions we are in a good spot.

"It is fair to say though we have five front-rowers, six or seven in the back three and three international centres.

"They are physically and importantly mentally refreshed. We have five weeks until our first trial.

"It is a sprint now."