Quade Cooper urges Rugby Australia to release Wallabies during British and Irish Lions tour

There’s a strong case the British and Irish Lions tour is more prestigious than a Rugby World Cup. And it’s why, writes Quade Cooper, long-suffering fans deserve better from the Wallabies.

As someone who’s been blessed to wear the Wallaby jersey and still carries a deep love for the game, I’ve been following the conversations around the upcoming Lions tour closely. There’s been plenty of discussion, but to me, a crucial point keeps getting overlooked: this series is a rare gift to the game — and we need to treat it that way.

In rugby, the World Cup is often seen as the pinnacle – it happens every four years and carries immense weight. But a British & Irish Lions tour? That comes around just once every 12 years. For many players, it might happen once in their entire career. The prestige is just as significant, if not greater in some ways. It’s not about comparing the two – they serve different purposes – but rather appreciating how rare and powerful these moments are in our sport.

That’s why I believe Rugby Australia must do everything it can to ensure our Super Rugby teams are able to field their best players against the Lions. This isn’t just about fairness, and it’s not about ticking boxes — it’s about giving the game, the fans, and the players what they deserve.

Let’s step back and look at the structure. Both the Wallabies and Lions are allowed 38-man squads. But the Lions are set to play 10 matches – including Argentina, three Tests, all the Super Rugby clubs, a First Nations & Pasifika team, and an AUNZ XV. The Wallabies, by contrast, are playing just three Tests.

That imbalance doesn’t add up. The Lions will be stretched thin, rotating and backing up players, likely fielding combinations as close to their “A team” as possible throughout the tour. So why would we not meet that challenge with strength? Why would we limit our best players – the ones we’re trying to develop, grow, and test – from gaining experience against a generational touring side?

In Australia, we talk a lot about being in a “building phase” – about giving young players experience, about growing combinations. Yet we’re facing arguably the most iconic touring team in the world and debating whether our top players should be allowed to play against them. If you’ve got a chance to play three or four games against the Lions instead of just one, that’s not just a cool memory – it’s invaluable development.

I speak from experience. In 2013, I wasn’t in the Wallabies squad due to well-known differences with the coach. But I did get the opportunity to pull on the Queensland Reds jersey and play against the Lions – and it meant everything.

Andrew Kellaway is one of the Wallabies who has been released.

Corey Toole will play for the Brumbies against the Lions.

To this day, I have only three jerseys hanging on my wall: my Reds 2011 Super Rugby Championship jersey, my Wallabies debut jersey, and my Reds vs Lions jersey. That’s the company I place it in – and it speaks volumes to the meaning of the occasion.

These moments stay with you. They lift the standard. They elevate the jersey. And more importantly, they inspire the fans. The supporters want to see their favourite players wearing their club colours on home soil, facing one of the most storied rugby institutions in the world.

Of course, scheduling conflicts exist. A game like the Waratahs facing the Lions on July 5th – one day before the Wallabies play Fiji – naturally presents challenges. That makes sense. But across the rest of the tour, we should be doing everything we can to field competitive sides, packed with players who’ll be leading Australian rugby forward for the next decade.

Some will argue injury risk. But rugby is a collision sport – injuries can happen in training just as easily as they can in games. Protecting players is important, but so is giving them the best chance to grow, challenge themselves, and represent their clubs with pride.

The Lions tour is more than just three Test matches. It’s a cultural moment. A generational event. A rare chance to bring the game to life across the country, from grassroots fans to aspiring young players watching from the sidelines.

Let’s not treat it as just another fixture. Let’s lean into it. Let’s make it unforgettable – for the players, for the fans, and for the future of the game in Australia.

Originally published as Quade Cooper urges Rugby Australia to release Wallabies during British and Irish Lions tour