HE'S one of Australia's most explosive young back-rowers, but Beau Robinson has been forced to play in Italy after failing to secure a Super 14 contract next year.
a time when Australia is on the lookout for talent to fill the proposed Super team to be based in Melbourne, The 23-year-old openside flanker has signed an eight-month deal with the Benevento Gladiators club.
"No one in Australia wants me ... I would have liked to have been given the opportunity anywhere," Robinson admitted. "It won't be a massive payday, but it is a chance to go and experience something else."
His move follows a season of frustration disappointment for the blond bombshell, who made a huge impact for the Waratahs in their charge to the 2008 Super 14 final.
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But Robinson failed to make the 22-man NSW squad once in this year's tournament.
His biggest setback came when he was told on a Monday evening he was in the squad to tour South Africa, only to learn the next morning there had been a rethink due to injuries and he wasn't going.
"It has been tough - the fact that I put so much into it with the pre-season, I was really focused and looking for my biggest year so far, and it didn't come out that way," he said.
Robinson has now found himself squeezed out, with openside flankers George Smith (Brumbies), Phil Waugh (Waratahs) and David Pocock (Force) all in the Wallabies squad while Richie McCaw's former All Blacks understudy Daniel Braid is with the battling Reds.
The Reds have also signed former Waratahs back-rower Lei Tomiki who has been playing in France.
Through the difficult times, Robinson has been motivated by the goal of proving he is a better player than some people may think.
He still has an eye on winning a spot in a new Australian-based Super team and knows there is a big opportunity to showcase his wares when he plays for Warringah in Saturday's sudden-death final against Gordon at Narrabeen.
"I think there will be a lot more people watching the club rugby finals this year to see where the possible players will come from for this (Super) team," Robinson said.
"Opportunities will hopefully come around with this new team and I just want to be playing my best football.
"I have to be positive to do that so people are seeing and taking notice."
* THE premiership hopes of Manly, who play Eastwood in the other Shute Shield elimination final on Sunday at Sylvania, have been dealt a big blow with Brumbies centre Tyrone Smith suspended for three games.
