Quade Cooper to undergo counselling

Wallabies rugby star Quade Cooper has been ordered to undergo counselling before he can play again for Queensland or Australia.

Cooper, 21, is facing a burglary charge following an alleged incident on the Gold Coast earlier this month.

The Australian and Queensland Rugby Unions released a statement today saying Cooper's "extensive personal development and counselling programme ... is aimed at addressing a number of off-field issues".

"Cooper's progress will be monitored and then reviewed in early February before any further decisions are made on his immediate playing future," the statement read.

"He will, at this stage, be permitted to resume training with the Reds in mid-January but with no guarantees about when he will return to playing."

Cooper faces a committal hearing in July.

A QRU disciplinary tribunal will revisit his off-field behaviour once court proceedings are complete.

"The court process needs to take its course and Quade is entitled to the presumption of innocence," ARU high performance general manager David Nucifora said in the statement.

"What we are talking about here in terms of personal development and counselling relates to the fact that Quade has had a number of off-field issues during the past year.

"The QRU and ARU agreed that collectively we need to impose on Quade an action plan that he must now adhere to as part of his ongoing employment, and Quade has agreed to make that commitment.

"We will not be going into the specifics of the programme that has been put in place, but it is extensive."

QRU boss Jim Carmichael added: "Quade is a young man who has faced the cold reality that some off-field facets of his life could jeopardise his future unless he changes them.

"Because he has accepted that responsibility and has committed to making the necessary change, we will help and support him in that - provided he continues to demonstrate that his commitment is genuine and ongoing.

"We all want to see Quade make the right choices in his life and this long-term programme of support and guidance is designed to help him do that."