Ashley-Cooper hits the APC comeback trail

ACT Brumbies utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper will resume team training on Monday in preparation for the Australian Provincial Championship (APC).

The 22-year-old has been rehabilitating a syndesmosis injury in his left ankle that he aggravated during Norths’ 22-19 loss to Gordon in the final round of the Tooheys New Cup on August 11.

The same complaint sidelined him for Round 5 of this year’s Super 14 season after he incurred the injury against the Cats the previous week.

With just two weeks until the Brumbies’ first APC match against the NSW Waratahs (Friday, 8 September) at Viking Park, Ashley-Cooper says he is looking forward to returning to the field.

“[The APC] is a great opportunity to play quality rugby at Super 14 standard,” he said. “We’ve got a new bunch of guys in this squad and I’ll look to take on a leadership role.

“I know my game has developed in the Brumbies program, playing with experienced players like Steve Larkham and George Gregan, and I’ll be trying to contribute to the team, pass on some of my experience and possibly help fast track some of the younger players to a fulltime contract.”

Ashley-Cooper, who made his Test debut against South Africa in Perth last year, wants to use the APC to impress the Wallabies’ selectors.

“With the Spring Tour just a couple of months away, this is the perfect opportunity to string some solid performances together,” he said. “I got a taste of Test football last year and this is another opportunity for me to put my name forward.

“Being with the Wallabies was an excellent experience and it was great to see how everything ran and how the team prepared for a match – it was a very enjoyable weekend. And while I was only on the field for two minutes, I’m still very proud of being the 800th capped Wallaby.”

Tickets to the Brumbies’ home APC matches against the Waratahs (8 September) and the Western Force (15 September) are available from Brumbies HQ (Canberra Centre, Canberra City) and the Vikings Auditorium Ticketing Office (Erindale Vikings Club, Ricardo St, Wanniassa). For more ticketing information call (02) 6121 2131 during business hours. Kick-off for both matches is at 7:00pm.

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