Cooper will earn more than €500,000 even if he does not play Super Rugby next year

Ulster have privately ruled out a move for Quade Cooper, the Australia fly half, as a replacement for the departing Christian Lealiifano.

Lealiifano, another former Wallaby, will leave the province at the end of January when his short-term loan deal expires, leaving Les Kiss without an experienced fly half.

Lealiifano returns to the Brumbies in January for the start of Super Rugby BRYAN KEANE/INPHO

Cooper has been told he has no future at the Queensland Reds by Brad Thorn, their new head coach, but the player is expected to stay in Australia, where he should continue to pick up a salary of more than €500,000 even if he does not kick a ball in Super Rugby next year.

The mercurial fly half was linked with a move to Bernard Jackman’s Dragons in recent weeks, and would be a marquee signing