Veteran flanker George Smith will remain at the ACT Brumbies after agreement with his Japanese club, opening the way for a possible return to the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions. Originally contracted until the end of next month, Smith has been cleared by Suntory Sungoliath to stay until the Brumbies' final game, including a possible finals campaign in July or August, the club said Thursday. The decision means that Smith will be in Australia when the three-Test series against the Lions is played in June and July.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia flyhalf Quade Cooper has no problem with national coach Robbie Deans and his omission from a Wallabies planning camp for the British and Irish Lions series was "no big issue". Cooper, who fell out in spectacular fashion with Deans last year, told local media he had been left out of the 30-strong group being brought together in Sydney this weekend.

Quade Cooper said Thursday he has no problems with coach Robbie Deans after his surprise omission from a 30-man Wallabies planning camp ahead of this year's British and Irish Lions series. Cooper was left out of Deans' prospective squad for the three-Test home series in June but he has taken his non-selection on the chin. The 38-Test playmaker played down his omission seven weeks before the official 25-man Wallabies Test squad is named. "It's no big issue really because we have a big season ahead of us," Cooper told Australian Associated Press.