5. Quade Cooper – Australia
After achieving 76 caps and over 200 points for Australia, Quade Cooper looked to be all said and done with international rugby following the end of the 2019/20 season. An unfulfilling campaign saw Cooper failed to be selected for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, with the expectations being that his time was over for the Wallabies.
However, some 1,541 days since his last match for his country, Cooper was called-up for the 2021 Rugby Championship, and helped Australia to victory over South Africa. The fly half then featured for a handful of international tests until last Summer, as he suffered an Achilles’ injury whilst warming up for Australia first test against England.
Former Australia Head Coach Dave Rennie brought through Brumbies youngster Noah Lolesio at fly half, with Queensland Red James O’Connor in support off the bench. With a new Head Coach in Eddie Jones, it is unclear as to whether Cooper will feature in the Australia squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. However, if the 34-year-old is selected in the squad for France, it is far to expect this will be his last dance in the gold of his country.