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Thomas
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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...eign-clubs-raid-wallabies-20110122-1a0iw.htmlSMH said:
Is this even true? Firstly Huia Edmonds isn't even a back-rower and secondly I can't find evidence any where else (I googled it).
B
Burke's Boot
Guest
He's just had a kid so i assume he is now living with his partner. From Rugby Heaven:
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...eign-clubs-raid-wallabies-20110122-1a0iw.html
ARU drops ball as foreign clubs raid Wallabies
Josh Rakic and Adrian Proszenko
January 23, 2011
Matt Giteau at Brumbies traing at Jervis Bay. Photo: Andrew Sheargold
THE World Cup will be the last time the majority of the Wallabies play together as defections overseas or to rival codes threaten to decimate Australia's playing ranks.
And The Sun-Herald can reveal that the ARU has made no attempt to retain superstar Matt Giteau although the 28-year-old playmaker stands to earn less in France than through his existing Wallabies deal.
Fifteen other Wallabies stars are off contract in October but the governing body has less than a fortnight to secure some of the biggest names as cashed-up European clubs prepare to pounce.
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Hooker Stephen Moore and back-rower Huia Edmonds have already signed with Paris club Racing Metro and English side Saracens respectively, while Dean Mumm, Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Luke Burgess have been given strict signing deadlines from determined French clubs as they look to cement their rosters by February.
ARU officials returned from their Christmas and New Year's holiday break last week to learn that international clubs had fast-tracked contract negotiations with their players, shifting contract deadlines to January - six months earlier than usual - in anticipation of a busy cup period.
And as rumours of unrest in Camp Wallaby between players, coaching staff and administration refuse to die, some of the code's biggest names are prepared to walk out on Australian rugby - and sign their lives away as soon as this week.
''The board just thinks that playing for the jersey is enough, but if the environment that these guys live in day-in and day-out is not one that's enjoyable, then no one is going to want to keep putting themselves through it,'' a source close to the Wallabies said.
''There are players out there who would prefer to stay in Australia and just play Super rugby in the current climate. But the ARU isn't even talking to anyone - they don't know if there will be staff changes next year. A guy like Matt Giteau is about to ink a deal and the ARU haven't even initiated contract talks with him. It doesn't make sense.''
Negotiations between the ARU and its players don't normally begin until the middle of the year. Some of the players believe the ARU should make the first move.
''A lot of players are under deadlines from the international clubs and whether they go or not is really depending on how long they can keep the clubs at bay before the ARU attempts to talk with them,'' the source said. ''But if they don't come to the table in time, than the players' hands will be forced. Because if they pass up the overseas deals then they have no bargaining power with the ARU beyond their existing contracts. So things are going to come to a head very shortly. And these alleged lucrative big-money deals that are meant to be luring players away are just spin. The reality of it is that pretty much in every case I'm aware of, you can earn more money in Australia.''
The ARU, however, has rejected the claims and insists the door is always open for emergency contract talks if players are being targeted.
''Clearly we want to retain our best talent and are aware of the need to start discussions in a World Cup year earlier than usual,'' an ARU spokesperson told The Sun-Herald.
"However, if there are any players fielding overseas offers who want or need to speak to us as a matter of urgency we are more than happy to hear from them. We are being vigilant on the retention side and anyone who wants to suggest otherwise should be prepared to put their names to any such claims."
ARU chief executive John O'Neill and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans are both off contract at year's end.
Wallabies and Reds legend Tim Horan backed the administration, explaining player movement inevitable after a World Cup. He also urged O'Neill to sign the big names before it was too late.
''The World Cup has always been such a large carrot for rugby players to stay and play,'' Horan said. ''Once you've ticked that box there's a bit of a gap to the next challenge.''
Targets on their heads
Matt Giteau
Age: 26
All but gone to Biarritz or Stade Francais.
Kurtley Beale
Age: 22
International offers and NRL. Undecided.
Rob Horne
Age: 21
Will stay.
Drew Mitchell
Age: 26
Strong possibility to Biarritz.
Dean Mumm
Age: 26
Strong possibility to France.
Luke Burgess
Age:26
Strong possibility to France.
Al Baxter
Age: 34
Likely to stay.
Phil Waugh
Age: 31
International offers, but undecided.
Adam Ashley-Cooper
Age: 26
Strong possibility to France. Keen to stay.
Stephen Moore
Age: 28
Gone to France.
Huia Edmonds
Age: 29
Gone to England.
Rocky Elsom
Age: 27
Likely to return to Leinster.
Nathan Sharpe
Age: 32.
International offers, but considering retirement.
Berrick Barnes
Age: 24
Weighing up French rugby, NRL or
staying.
David Pocock
Age: 22
Under contract but keen to go to France if mass exodus.
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TOCC
Guest
one of the downsides of a central contracting system, you can bet your bottom dollar if the SuperRugby clubs had a salary cap that the clubs would be negotiating contracts already
Jethro Tah
Bob Loudon (25)
Are all the above speculations true? or is it just their managers planting rumours to get the advantage in contract renewals? I seem to recall similar threats last year when Hynes and Diggers were sorting out their contracts.
B
Burke's Boot
Guest
Maybe in his favoured possie of inside-centre where he played for the Rats and Souths i think.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
What an attrocious piece of journalism. How much credence could you give it when they cannot get the basic facts right.
However it is not the first time many of these rumours have come about and I wouldn't be surprised at all if a number of them are true.
The only real worries for me at Wallabies level is the retention of Pocock, Beale, Barnes, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Moore and that position hasn't changed from the end of last year. I am surprised that the mungo journo's didn't mention that Cooper is only on a one year contract, perhaps his lack of defensive ability has made them cold on him now?
We all knew that Giteau and Elsom would leave, in fact I predicted Elsom would be gone at the end of the RWC as soon as they bent over backwards to sign him back from Ireland.
At the provincial level it will decimate our S15 sides if first choice players in their prime like Mumm and Burgess in addition to those above go. The longer season requires more depth and this is a blow to our shallow pool if true.
I do note that the authors have also attempted to pad out their story by mentioning the Fuse and Sharpe, who were both very likely to retire at the end of the year in any event, Baxter especially so as he would be unlikely to leave his Architectural position.
However it is not the first time many of these rumours have come about and I wouldn't be surprised at all if a number of them are true.
The only real worries for me at Wallabies level is the retention of Pocock, Beale, Barnes, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Moore and that position hasn't changed from the end of last year. I am surprised that the mungo journo's didn't mention that Cooper is only on a one year contract, perhaps his lack of defensive ability has made them cold on him now?
We all knew that Giteau and Elsom would leave, in fact I predicted Elsom would be gone at the end of the RWC as soon as they bent over backwards to sign him back from Ireland.
At the provincial level it will decimate our S15 sides if first choice players in their prime like Mumm and Burgess in addition to those above go. The longer season requires more depth and this is a blow to our shallow pool if true.
I do note that the authors have also attempted to pad out their story by mentioning the Fuse and Sharpe, who were both very likely to retire at the end of the year in any event, Baxter especially so as he would be unlikely to leave his Architectural position.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Are you confusing him with Manny, his brother? I can't recall seeing Huia play anywhere but Hooker.
T
TOCC
Guest
the players which the ARU should focus there energies on retaining are Beale, Pocock, Cooper, Genia, JOC (James O'Connor) and TPN...
That is a core foundation right there, if Giteau, Barnes and Hugivafuck Edmonds want to demand more money then what there worth, then let them go..
That is a core foundation right there, if Giteau, Barnes and Hugivafuck Edmonds want to demand more money then what there worth, then let them go..
he definitely spent time in club land at inside centre. I thought it was for Easts though.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
Perhaps we could make International selection concessions for the first 2 years of every 4 year WC cycle. There would obviously be positives and pitfalls to this but all-in-all it would keep the players happy.
As a reverse of this you'd ideally see a policy making it difficult to get selected for those who try to sweep back into Aus rugby the year before the WC (Vickerman esc).
As a reverse of this you'd ideally see a policy making it difficult to get selected for those who try to sweep back into Aus rugby the year before the WC (Vickerman esc).
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Why not simply require players to play/be contracted for the entire Super Rugby season in a calendar year to be eligible for International selection in that year.
The stupid decision to allow Elsom to go on the EOYT two years ago without having played Super Rugby that year and the even more stupid talk about Vickerman makes the whole Super Rugby & international eligibility stance a farce.
The stupid decision to allow Elsom to go on the EOYT two years ago without having played Super Rugby that year and the even more stupid talk about Vickerman makes the whole Super Rugby & international eligibility stance a farce.
RugbyFuture
Lord Logo
From Twitter
Matt Giteau said:
RugbyFuture
Lord Logo
did anyone just think about it and realise that Gits just got married to an Australian Netball player?
waratahjesus
Greg Davis (50)
the facts might be wrong, but what would be right is his agent has realised that Deans might be retained as coach beyond the world cup and that gits is heavily out of love at international level.
meaning he needs to create a bidding war, the ARU wouldnt bite, gits is a must for this world cup but beyond it, we have cover coming through and his best days are behind him. Who would bite would be a super rugby club, maybe the rebels or even the force might have another crack seeing as his mrs is from perth. its really his last hope of getting a million plus and good on his manager.
if he goes he goes, same with quade and every other player, yes its a loss for australia but really, if were going to need to rebuild again post world cup i would prefer to start right away than a year or so out like we did this time.
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