Brumby stranded as Japanese club refuses early release
A contract stand-off has left monster ACT Brumbies recruit Fotu Auelua stranded in Japan just 35 days out from the opening game of the Super Rugby season.Despite requesting an early release from his deal with NTT Communications to join his new Brumbies teammates, Auelua still doesn't know when he will arrive in Canberra.
The 119kg wrecking ball is the only member of Jake White's squad who is not at pre-season training before the season-opener against the Western Force on February 24.
The Japanese regular season finishes on February 5, but NTT Communications is in line to make a wildcard playoff which could limit Auelua to just a few days with the Brumbies before they take on the Force.
Making matters worse for the powerful No8 is that he is nursing a medial ligament strain and will not play for the next two weeks.
When Auelua injured his knee, he asked NTT Communications if he could be released early to give him more preparation time with the Brumbies, but his request was denied.
''Obviously Jake would like me [in Canberra] as soon as possible and I was keen to get there to try to catch up with training,'' Auelua said.
''I've asked a couple of times if I could be released [from Japan] and they said no so I respect their decision.
''I'm contracted here and I enjoy it here, but at the same time I feel like I should be with [the Brumbies] getting ready for the season.''
Given Auelua's limited preparation time, he does not expect to be in selection contention for the round one match.
But he has vowed to arrive in the capital injury free and nearing peak fitness to try to fast-track his bid to make his Super Rugby debut.
When Auelua does join the Brumbies, he will be locked in a battle with Ben Mowen, Ita Vaea and Colby Fainga'a to win a starting spot.
The 27-year-old has spent his career playing in France for US Dax and Toulon before moving to Japan last year to join NTT Communications.
He has established himself as a feared ball-runner and his 189cm, 119kg frame has the potential to leave a path of destruction in Super Rugby.
While Auelua is unlikely to feature in the starting XV until he has had sufficient time training with the Brumbies, forwards coach Laurie Fisher and White are starting to get an idea of how their forward pack will look.
Mowen will be the chief lineout caller and can play at the back of the scrum or at blindside flanker.
Damaging ball-runner Vaea burst into Super Rugby last season and played almost every game in his debut campaign.
''[Fotu's] explosive, has the power, strong carry and can hit, he's a very damaging player,'' Fisher said.
''The good thing is we've got flexibility in selection [for the back row], we've got explosive players and we have a choice of guys who bring a different skillset.''
