Brumbies and current Wallabies captain Ben Mowen has announced that he will be leaving Australian rugby after the 2014 Super Rugby season.
Mowen fronted a press conference in Canberra this morning to explain his decision that is based entirely on family reasons and means he will miss his shot at the Rugby World Cup in England in 2015.
‘It was something I’d wrestled with for the best part of six months, it was an extremely rewarding year last year but to get to that point you have to spend a lot of time away from your family and my intent in life is not to do that’ Mowen said.
With the World Cup next year, it’s a big decision to make but Mowen says he could not invest the time and emotion into a World Cup campaign. ‘It does seem just around the corner but you do spend a lot of time on the road between here and there. Had it been a couple of years ago it would have lined up perfectly but I’m really content with my decision’.
2013 was a massive year for Mowen in terms of playing time and travel combined with the demands of spending upwards of six months in hotels away from his young family. He had been in discussions with Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie since the final Spring Tour game against Wales but his mind was made up after spending time with his family over the Christmas break.
Mowen had been in contract negotiations with the ARU but says the situation had no bearing on his decision.
He added that when he contacted McKenzie to explain his decision was not about money he had been understanding and supportive.
‘What I’ve tried to do is make this decision as early as I can in the year so it gives both the Brumbies and the Wallabies lots of time to make the various decisions that roll off the back of it and hopefully by giving people notice and being upfront about it you show the respect you have for the side’.
Mowen says he won’t let his decision affect his performance with the Brumbies in 2014 and will focus on taking the Brumbies to the final again after being runners up to the Chiefs in the 2013 decider.
In terms of his destination, Mowen has confirmed he is in negotiations with a French club but will leave it up to that club to make an announcement when the time is right.
