If you reckon Aussie parking is expensive, wait until you see the INSANE bill footy great Quade Cooper copped for leaving his car in a garage in Japan
The former Queensland Reds star is currently plying his trade in Japan, having first moved to the country in 2019 to play for the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners in Osaka.
The 37-year-old made 43 appearances for the Japanese side before taking up a role as an attack coach with the footy club earlier this year.
Cooper has been taking some time off between seasons, spending time in America and Australia in recent weeks.
But he revealed to fans on Instagram on Sunday that he'd been stung by a nasty parking ticket.
'I just got back to Japan and I've left my car in a public car park after I went home to Australia.'
'I told a friend to pick it up, which I wasn't very clear what I said first.'
'Now I'm going to go pick it up and let's see how much it costs. I might have to get a loan out.'
After slotting his ticket into the parking machine, Cooper was left with a nasty surprise, charging him 102,600 Japanese Yen.
That works out to a whopping $1076.08.
'One thousand dollars in parking,' he said, gobsmacked.
'There's your lesson kids... Do not leave your car parked in a public car park when you go on holiday.'
Cooper enjoyed a glittering career playing in Australia and France.
The Auckland-born playmaker would play for the Reds for the lion's share of his career, making 137 appearances for the Queensland outfit in Super Rugby.
In the later stages of his career, Cooper would also enjoy spells with Brisbane City, and Toulon in France before moving to Japan.
He'd go on to win 80 caps for Australia with the fly-half playing for the Wallabies between 2008 and 2023 as well as the country's sevens side.
In recent weeks, Cooper has opened up on his view of how the Wallabies are recruiting players. With Australian rugby having waned in recent years, Cooper believes it's time for a change to the 'outdated' approach to player selection.
It comes after Joe Schmidt's side were beaten 2-1 in this year's British and Irish Lions series, despite bouncing back in the third Test in Sydney to thump Andy Farrell's side on Saturday.
With some of Australia's top stars currently playing overseas, the laws around eligibility have been relaxed in recent years, however Joe Schmidt has still been reluctant to pick overseas players, and even snubbed some players who had penned deals to head abroad following the Super Rugby season.
'South Africa has won two World Cups by embracing overseas-based players. Meanwhile, Australia's refusal to go down the same path has cost the Wallabies immensely,' Cooper said in his column in the Courier Mail.
'Every year, the same debate circles Australian rugby: should overseas-based players be allowed to represent the Wallabies.
'And every year, we rehash the same talking points without facing the obvious truth — if we want to compete with the world's best, we need to select the world's best players, regardless of where they play.
'Look at South Africa. They've won the past two Rugby World Cups and dominated the global stage not because they've kept their stars locked at home, but because they've embraced a smarter model.'
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