1
Rennie lays out Rugby Australia's stance amid Koroibete rumours
By AAP
Coach Dave Rennie appears resigned to losing his best player, Marika Koroibete, with cashed-up overseas competitions increasingly the biggest threat to the success of the Wallabies.
The Melbourne Rebels flyer can command more than $1 million a year playing overseas and is expected to quit Australian rugby at the end of 2021 when his contract is up.
Rennie said he'd love to keep Koroibete, who had gone from strength to strength in the past 12 months and is now a global star.
"I agree, he's been fantastic, phenomenal," Rennie said.
"There's been a couple of games he's played this year where he's been the best player on the field and you've only got to reflect back to the Bledisloe Cup game in Brisbane, he was sensational that day.
"We'd love to keep him but that's the challenges we face."
Rennie ruled out making changes to eligibility that would allow him to pick overseas-based players such as Koroibete, saying it would hurt the Su per Rugby AU competition.
He said the Japanese Top League threatened Australian rugby because they were also were targeting young players and those outside of the Wallabies with astronomical money.
Rugby Australia, which is just getting back on its feet after COVID-19, doesn't have the financial resources to compete.
"The Japan market is just going beserk, it's not just the elite but some fringe guys - guys who would be battling away in Super Rugby over here can earn three or four times what they would be paid.
"That's why, I guess, we've got to make the Wallaby jersey something the guys are desperate to get.
"So, whether we can afford to hang on to guys like Marika, that's the question.
"Through COVID, there's less resource around and as contracts are coming through, the guys are getting less, not more."
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Scottish Rugby set for huge Duhan van der Merwe shaped boost
3
World Player of the Year was only a two horse race
4
The full list of 2024 World Rugby Awards winners
5
Latest Comments
Ben Smith. My Man! So glad this is only "opinion piece". I was Reading the headline and straight away assumed you meant a 2 horse race between Pieter and Cheslin. There was no way you you meant Caelan.
Cheslin is not only the most exciting winger of this generation, but also a multi disciplined performer, Defence, Lineouts, Conversions and scrumming. LOL. He can do it all. He can put players twice his size on there rear ends and side step at full pace around on coming traffic on a penny.
I will also note that there has been since 2009 till 2017 only NZ winners bar the great one Thierry Dusautoir for France in 2011. And this was because they were the best team in the world winning back to back world cups, also having the best players at that time nominated. Never before has there been more than 2 players from the same country nominated for the award, but this year there was 3 from SA. All Dbl World Cup winning Players.
No one has been so put out about who was nominated in earlier awards, but for some reason you are.
I am thankful that its not up to you to decide on the "token" choices. (Rather lets not use that language again). The world chose the players and lets leave it there.
I don't Blame Rugby Pass for allowing this to print, but there should have been some profound editing on this.
Thanks for your opinion, But maybe lets keep it that just yours not anyone else's.
Go to commentsIf OZ are to regain their lost credibility they now need to tip up the Irish or at least run them close. Can't see that happening even though miracles occasionally occur
Go to comments