Wallabies star Quade Cooper is finally true blue.
After 75 Test matches for Australia, the New Zealand-born playmaker tweeted today that he had been officially granted citizenship.
“I can finally say I’m Australian,” Cooper wrote, while thanking his supporters.
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Cooper had previously had his citizenship applications knocked back before the Australian government changed eligibility rules this year.
The now-33-year-old was born in Auckland and moved to Australia as a 13-year-old.
Cooper made a remarkable comeback to the Test arena last year and piloted the Wallabies to five straight wins.
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“Exceptional people must not be prevented from becoming Australians because of the unique demands of the very work they do that makes them exceptional,” immigration minister Alex Hawke said in September in announcing the changes.
Cooper sat his citizenship test in December.
“I was super nervous as there were some difficult questions on the citizenship test and I felt that if I failed, everyone’s efforts may have been for nothing,” he said.
“But in truth, the law change itself is the victory.”
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