Welsh international Gareth Cooper leaves Cardiff Blues
Welsh scrum-half Gareth Cooper has left Cardiff Blues after a mutual agreement between the player and the club.
The Welsh international has struggled with a problematic groin injury, accepting medical advice to rest for a year in order to completely recover.
In a public statement, the 31-year-old said, "I've come to an amicable agreement with Cardiff Blues."
The Cardiff scrum-half only managed to play 20 minutes of rugby against Italian side Treviso this season, and although capped 46 times for Wales, his career has been frustrating due to a number of injuries.
In 2005, the British and Irish Lion underwent surgery on his groin and had a double hernia operation.
Cooper joined Cardiff from Gloucester in the summer of 2009 and has played only 22 times for the Welsh club since then.
"It has been a frustrating couple of years for me and things haven't quite worked as I'd hoped. I don't think I've shown my full potential with the Blues due to the groin injury."
The scrum-half admitted that it was in his interest to accept the advice from the doctors and as a result, the Welsh international will have no hope of making the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
"I've been told by the medical team that I need a full rest from the game for between 6 to 12 months. The groin injury started to hurt in the summer of 2009 and it has got progressively worse."
Cardiff chief executive Robert Norster praised the player for his efforts with Cardiff and said, "Naturally, on behalf of everyone associated with the Blues, I thank Gareth for his efforts for the team and wish him every success in his future career."
The player will hope to return to action at the end of next year and will focus on finding a new club once his groin injury is completely healed.
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