Ashley-Cooper woos beautiful Bordeaux at unveiling
Utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper heaped praise on the culture and facilities of his new club, and the lifestyle and beauty of the city of Bordeaux as he explained his switch from Australia to France on Thursday.
The 31-year-old agreed to join Bordeaux on a two-year deal last December, but was presented at the club on Thursday after a break to get over the exertions of Australia's run to the 2015 World Cup final.
"It's a great club with a great culture and a great training centre. It's also a beautiful city so it ticked all the right boxes," said the Sydney-born player with 114 international appearances.
"I have always wanted to play here in France so it was always just a matter of timing," he said. "The decision making process was wanting to come to a team that played good rugby too and Bordeaux like to attack."
Ashley-Cooper says he's been convinced by fellow Wallabies Matt Giteau and James O'Connor, who already ply their trade in Toulon and who had persuaded him that the whole France package was a good deal.
"They've loved their time at Toulon. It's different both on and off the field here in France," he said.
"You have to enjoy your rugby, but your time off the field is important too," he said.
When asked if he was fit to take on Stade Francais in Paris this weekend he replied that he was raring to go.
"After the World Cup I went home for four weeks. It's been a long year but I'm feeling good now. The World Cup was physically demanding, but I'm feeling great now," he insisted.
The player also said that recent terror attacks in France had made no impact on his motivation to move th the country.
"Bordeaux is a safe place and a beautiful city. It (a terror attack) can happen anywhere in the World and for me you have to put that aside and not give that a thought," he said.
Instead he said he was raring to get into the action: "I want to earn the respect of the players, the fans and the coaches," he said.
"I don't really have a preference for position, outside centre, wing, fullback, its all the same for me," said the man known in Australia as Mr Fixit because of all the different positions he plays in.
Bordeaux are currently seventh in the Top 14, albeit only five points behind leaders Clermont on 29 points.