Rugby star Quade Cooper pleads for an end to online bullying after young family member takes his own life

Wallabies' Quade Cooper tweeted to raise awareness about online bullying
He revealed that a young relative took his own life at the age of 13
The ten, Kopani McIroy, is a New Zealand family member of Cooper
Cooper said it was sad Kopani thought taking his life was the only choice

By Louise Cheer for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:46 GMT, 18 September 2015 | Updated: 03:57 GMT, 18 September 2015

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Heartbroken Wallabies player Quade Cooper has spoken out against online bullying after a young family member took his own life.

The rugby union star, who is in England preparing for the Rugby World Cup, took to Twitter to express his grief as he paid tribute to his relative.

'RIP young Kopani. As the pain and suffering of the gutless bullies eases may the love of your kind spirit live on,' Cooper wrote, adding the hashtag: 'Stop Bullying For Kopani'.

Quade Cooper (pictured left with girlfriend Laura Dundovic) has spoken out about online bullying after a young relative took his own life

Another tweet included a photograph of McIlroy with the caption: 'Here's the face of a kid who thought the only way to stop the pain was to take his own life.'

Cooper's Twitter account was flooded with messages of support, with fans commending him for speaking out about bullying.

'@QuadeCooper here could be the face of many hundreds of kids who see nothing but pain & no way out. Highlighting this can have positives RIP,' one man wrote.

A woman said: '@QuadeCooper very sorry for your loss Quade. At 13 he was just beginning his life and now the whanau [Maori word meaning extended family] must mourn his loss. Tragic.'

Cooper revealed his loved one was 13-year-old Kopani McIroy who died this week while he was in England training for the Rugby World Cup

The rugby union star paid tribute to the teenager online and drew attention to the issue of bullying

Also among his supporters was his model girlfriend, Laura Dundovic, who tweeted: 'So heartbreaking. Some people are so cruel.'

Cooper revealed the story behind the tweet to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Kopani McIroy is a young member of Cooper's family who lives in New Zealand. He took his own life this week aged just 13.

The rugby union star learned of the teenager's death after his family sent him a message.

He said he wanted to speak out about it to raise awareness of the devastating impact bullying can have on a person's life, with a focus on the kind that takes place online.

He said he wanted to speak out about it to raise awareness of the devastating impact bullying can have on a person's life, with a focus on the kind that takes place online

'It just saddens me to think that a kid, at such a young age, could think that's the only way, or the only option to stop bullying. It's just brushed over so frequently,' Cooper told the Herald.

'I can remember playing totem tennis with him just a few years ago at my aunty's unveiling [a Maori custom where a gravestone is revealed a year after burial]. He really was just the nicest kid.'

Cooper said people felt they could hide behind a keyboard and screen when they bullied someone online without having to deal with the consequences of their actions.

'People feel they can say nasty things but how can they know what damage is being done? For the people doing the bullying, there are no real consequences until something tragic happens,' he said.

If you or someone you knows needs help, call Lifeline on 131 114 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.