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The rare list of rugby union stars who tried a code switch to league
By AAP
In the days when rugby union was amateur, code switches to rugby league were the norm but for the last 30 years it has been mostly one-way traffic in the other direction.
Here AAP examines some of the players to ditch the 15-man game for league after Wallabies winger Mark Nawaqanitawase sealed a two-year deal to join the NRL's Sydney Roosters.
GARRICK MORGAN
The last Wallaby to walk out on union for league, Morgan joined the South Queensland Crushers for the 1995 season but that lasted just two games. The forward soon returned to union with the Queensland Reds and won caps for the Wallabies either side of his stint in league.
JOHN KIRWAN
A member of the inaugural Warriors side in 1995, Kirwan had been a star of an all-conquering All Blacks side which won the 1987 Rugby World Cup. The winger had a steady if unspectacular time in the Warriors' first two seasons before finishing his career in Japanese rugby.
GARETH THOMAS
Thomas was a 100-cap veteran and an ornament of the Welsh rugby union team throughout the 2000s. He made his league bow aged 35 in the Super League in 2010 and went on to represent Wales in league as a centre too but by then his best days were well behind him.
LUTHER BURRELL
Grew up in the league hotbed of Huddersfield but made strides in union as a centre where he won 15 caps for England. Upset by missing out on the 2015 Rugby World Cup squad for Sam Burgess, Burrell had a brief and uneventful eight-game stint with Warrington in the Super League.
WILL WARBRICK
A former New Zealand Sevens player, Olympic silver medallist Warbrick made the move to the Melbourne Storm at the start of 2022. While initially beginning in the Queensland Cup, the winger had a breakout season in 2023 scoring 17 tries in 25 NRL games.
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Latest Comments
I wonder Jake, who do you think is the best fit for Australia as a coach? Not since Joe Schmidt took over as coach did Australia look any good, however, there is always this debate around not having an Aussie coach by the fans and so called pundits and old players.
Some of them are changing their minds now however, but I would love to see who you would choose. I think Joe Schmidt is an excellent coach, who puts in everything for the team he is coaching. To him, there is no such thing as being biased.
Go to commentsExcept for the 6N he has won nothing. No WC's, no Lions tours not anything. He is ranked even behind Eddie Jones, who has won a WC with SA and have a better victory rate than Gatland. Keep your so called "best coach" in the world. No one but Wales wants him. A very harsh Hell No comes to mind if anyone asks if they would want Gatland as head coach.
Guess the man is wearing blinders. Rob Howley is howling mad describing Gatland as the best. What a load of 💩
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