The ARU have unveiled the latest weapon in their arsenal to turn back the tide of the Wallabies exodus to cashed-up clubs in Europe and Japan in the form of an updated foreign selection policy.
The landmark ruling states that: “Effective immediately, overseas-based players will now be eligible for Qantas Wallabies selection if they have played more than 60 Tests for Australia and have held a professional contract with Australian Rugby for at least seven years.
Pulver added that: “players returning to Australia from overseas who make a two-year commitment to an Australian Super Rugby Club will also be eligible to represent the Qantas Wallabies.”
The full press release can be found here: http://ausrug.by/1yQQpjV
In adddition to this, Australian Rugby CEO Bill Pulver has brought about the implementation of so called ‘flexible’ contracts – the first of which have been offered to Bernard Foley, Ben McCalman and Israel Folau.
More information about flexible contracts can be found here: http://bit.ly/1GiljnH
Former Wallabies George Smith, Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell will wake in France tomorrow eligible to reclaim their Wallaby mantle at the Rugby World Cup.
However, with a four-test Rugby Championship and the four-match Pool Stage of the Rugby World Cup the only guaranteed Wallabies tests for 2015, time is fast running out for the players yet to depart Australian shores to maintain their qualification prospects in the future.
Provided the Wallabies reach the World Cup Semi-Finals – ensuring 11 test matches for 2015 – nine top line players will become eligible for the Wallabies regardless where they play their Rugby.
Current qualifiers based overseas
George Smith (111 caps, Australian Contract from 2000-’10 + 2013 – 12 years)
Matt Giteau (92 caps , Australian Contract from 2001-’11 – 11 years)
Drew Mitchell (63 caps, Australian Contract from 2004-’13 – 10 years)
Current qualifiers based locally
Adam Ashley-Cooper (104 caps, Australian Contract since 2004 – 12 years)
Stephen Moore (92 caps, Australian Contract since 2003 -13 years)
Ben Alexander (72 caps, Australian Contract since 2008 -8 years)
Benn Robinson (72 caps, Australian Contract since 2006 – 10 years)
Potential qualifiers based overseas in 2016
James Horwill (58 caps, Australian Contract since 2006 – 10 years)
Will Genia (58 caps, Australian Contract since 2007 -9 years)
Wycliff Palu (54, Australian Contract since 2005 – 11 years)
Quade Cooper (53 caps, Australian Contract since 2007 -9 years)
Sekope Kepu (52 caps, Australian Contract since 2007 – 8 years)
Non-qualifiers based overseas in 2016
Berrick Barnes (51 caps, Australian Contract from 2006-’13 – 8 years)
Digby Ioane (35 caps, Australian Contract from 2006-’13 – 8 years)
Scott Higginbotham (31 caps, Australian Contract from 2007-’15 – 9 years)
Hugh McMeniman (22 caps, Australian Contract from 2006-’09 + ’13-’14 – 7 years)
Nick White (19 caps, Australian Contract from 2011-’15 – 5 years)
Ben Mowen (15 caps, Australian Contract from 2006-’14 – 9 years)
Salesi Ma’afu (14 caps, Australian Contract from 2007-’13 – 7 years)
Peter Betham (2 caps, Australian Contract from 2008-’15 – 8 years)
Peter Kimlin (2 caps, Australian Contract from 2007-’13 – 7 years)
Kane Douglas (14 caps, Australian Contract from 2010-’14 – 5 years)
Paul Alo’Emile (0 caps, Australian Contract from 2011-’15 – 5 years)
