Could Quade Cooper play Super Rugby for the Rebels?

The Melbourne Rebels are reportedly planning on swooping to sign Quade Cooper ahead of the Queensland Reds.

The Australian playmaker left the Reds last year to join wealthy French club Toulon on a two-year deal.

But he's been linked with an early return to Australia, with Michael Cheika keen to add Cooper to the Wallabies squad again.

And The Australian reported that the Rebels have joined the race for the New Zealand-born first-five.

READ MORE:

* Cooper set for Australian return

* Cooper and Goromaru swap?

* Cooper misses sevens cut

* Is David Pocock injured?

* Michael Cheika won't panic

* 'England made it a brawl'

It's claimed they're hoping that Cooper's close friendship with the Rebels' new assistant coach, Morgan Turinui, will attract him to Melbourne.

The 28-year-old played in Super Rugby for the Reds between 2007 and 2015 and has won 58 Wallabies caps.

He chased a spot in the Australian team for the Rio Olympics in August, but he was snubbed by their sevens squad earlier this year.

The report also claims that Cooper's manager has now instigated a bidding war between the Reds and the Rebels, who are both keen on his services.

* Sign up to receive our new evening newsletter Two Minutes of Stuff - the news, but different