Friday’s rugby news has more French departures, Cheika not worried, Hunt given high praise and Carter to Racing Metro.
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Kepu to join France departures
Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu is set to join the growing list of Test players to commit to contracts in French rugby after the 2015 World Cup. Yesterday’s news confirmed that Test veterans Adam Ashley-Cooper and James Horwill were both set to head overseas and sources in Europe believe a deal is all-but done between Kepu and Bordeaux.
The loss of the 52 Test prop compounds the lack of depth at the tight-head position in Australian rugby. Australia have recently lost Dan Palmer, Salesi Ma’afu and Kieron Longbottom to Europe, while highly-rated 22-year-old Rebel Paul Alo-Emile has also signed a deal with Stade Francais.
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Cheika unconcerned by exodus
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika remains unfazed about the prospect of a mass exodus of stars after next year’s Rugby World Cup, despite the number of departures confirmed over the past few days.
Cheika has signed on as Wallaby coach until at least the end of 2017 and emphasised that he and the ARU have the responsibility of making the choice of Test inclusion more appealing than chasing the money overseas. “We want to make sure that our environments, both in Super Rugby and in the Australian team, are so good that players don’t want to leave because they’re enjoying themselves and they’re getting what they want out of rugby,” Cheika said.
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M O’Connor backs Karmichael
Dual international Michael O’Connor has backed recent union convert Karmichael Hunt to have an important role in lifting the Reds to the position of Super Rugby contender this year.
O’Connor, recently the national Sevens coach, said that Hunt would have no issues readjusting to the physicality of union after his AFL stint and further emphasised that the 28-year-old would thrive under the pressure for him to succeed and had the makings of an on-field general. The one concern for O’Connor was Hunt’s abilities to adapt to the rule changes and improving his “union nous.”
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Carter to Racing Metro
Dan Carter will become rugby’s highest paid player when he joins French Top 14 club Racing Metro after next year’s World Cup, set to reportedly earn €1.5m a year.
All Black coach Steve Hansen offered his congratulations to Carter, saying he had set a benchmark in the No 10 jersey. “He is still in the midst of a wonderful career, both as a provincial, Super Rugby player and an All Black, and will leave us as the greatest first five-eighth (flyhalf) ever,” he said. Carter has played 102 Tests, scoring a world record 1 457 points, and was named the world player of the year in 2005 and 2012.
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