Quade Cooper at a gym session with his Queensland Reds team mates at ... - Herald Sun

Quade Cooper at a gym session with his Queensland Reds team mates at Ballymore. Picture: Wallis Peter Source: The Courier-Mail

QUADE Cooper says he is disappointed the Queensland Reds' final trial is on the same night as his boxing debut.

The Reds host Super Rugby champions the Chiefs in their second and final trial game on the Sunshine Coast next year.

The Stockland Stadium game is on Friday February 8, the same night Cooper fights on the undercard of Sonny Bill Williams' clash with Francois Botha at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

The Reds will field their strongest possible team against the Chiefs in their last trial before facing the Brumbies in Canberra in Super Rugby's opening round a week later.

Cooper will play in the Reds' first trial against the Auckland Blues in Toowoomba on February 2.

"It is disappointing. I would love to be there and I would love to play," Cooper said.

"I'll be supporting them. I'll try to keep an eye out for the score and text Ewen (McKenzie, Reds director of coaching) to find out how it is going.

"I had a chat with Ewen about it this week. Both teams wanted it on the Friday so they can have more time to recover before the first round.

"It is the best thing for the team. I'll play that first trial.

"The boys want to watch the fight too and they were excited about sitting ringside.

"I can't wait for round 1 (of Super Rugby) though."

Queensland Reds head coach Richard Graham said Cooper's schedule clash was not a major issue.

"This is something we have inherited," Graham said.

"Quade will play that first trial and have a lot of time in pre-season to work on those combinations as well.

"This will be the last opportunity for players to impress before round 1 selection against the Brumbies and we will want to see the squad execute all we have worked on in the pre-season.

"It is a real coup for the Reds to host a team like the Chiefs."

The Chiefs no longer have the services of superstar Williams but their team does feature All Blacks playmaker Aaron Cruden and forward Liam Messam.