Sevens: Cooper omitted from Sydney squad

Quade Cooper won't enjoy a chance to play sevens for Australia in Sydney this weekend. Photo / Getty

Quade Cooper has been left out of Australia's squad for this weekend's Sydney leg of rugby's Sevens World Series despite flying in from France.

Former Wallabies playmaker Cooper, who is attached to French club Toulon, arrived in Sydney on Wednesday, three days before the tournament, but misses the chance to make his national sevens debut with no place found for him in the 12-man squad to play at a sold out Allianz Stadium.

"Due to circumstances which were beyond Quade's control and our control, he just couldn't get enough work in this week with the team," new Australian Sevens head coach Andy Friend said.

It's the first big selection call for Friend, naming his first squad since taking the helm but he said his hand was forced because of Cooper's severely limited preparation time.

"There is no doubt in my mind that he will be a tremendous addition to the squad as we build towards Rio," Friend said.

"Quade is going to get his opportunities during the series and we are really excited to have him here in our group and with us throughout this preparation.

"He'll spend the weekend embedded with the squad as well, that contact is a really important part of his learning process in a different version of the game."

Veteran Ed Jenkins returns to captain Australia among five changes from the squad that finished fifth in the Wellington World Series leg last weekend.

Former Wallabies winger Henry Speight comes in for his first sevens tournament on home soil while star back Cameron Clark also returns.

The return of some of the team's more experienced campaigners will boost their chances in a strong Pool A that includes New Zealand, Canada and Portugal.

-AAP