Rugby: Aussies abroad can play in tests

SYDNEY - With its player depth coming under scrutiny, the Australian Rugby Union has revealed that overseas-based players will be available for selection for the Wallabies and has proposed a back-up fourth Super 12 team.

ARU officials are concerned about an exodus of past and present Wallabies to big-spending European clubs. Most of them are players nearing the end of their careers, including second five-eighths Tim Horan, flanker David Wilson, prop Patricio Noriega, winger Mitch Hardy, utility forward Troy Jaques and lock John Welborn.

Centre Jason Little is expected to sign overseas and, like the others, get an early release from his ARU contract to join his new club in September.

ARU chief executive John O'Neill responded to the strain being placed on player resources by pointing out that it was possible to instruct any player who had left Australia under International Rugby Board regulations to give their country first call over club.

There is nothing to stop the ARU from selecting players who have gone offshore, O'Neill told The Australian newspaper.

He conceded such an option would be fraught with danger because it would provide an unwanted incentive for other Australian-based players to head offshore, where the financial rewards could be greater, while knowing they could still represent the Wallabies.

"But we are already intent on not losing anyone to overseas clubs that we believe is important to our World Cup campaign in 2003," he said.

On Thursday, the ARU secured the signatures of winger Ben Tune and first five-eighths Elton Flatley until the end of the 2003 season. It will soon attempt to sign a core of other key Wallabies until the World Cup tournament that year, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Halfback George Gregan is uncontracted beyond this year and is seen as a key signing, as are lock David Giffin, No 8 Toutai Kefu, first five-eighths Stephen Larkham and fullbacks Chris Latham and Matt Burke.

Gregan and Giffin are the two most likely candidates for the Wallaby captaincy when incumbent John Eales retires, possibly at the end of next year.

Meanwhile, the ARU is planning to introduce a shadow Super 12 team next year.

The back-up side would consist of players not wanted for the Queensland, New South Wales or ACT Super 12 teams. It would be supervised by ARU elite performance manager Jeff Miller and probably be based in Sydney. They would play games against provincial New Zealand and Pacific Island sides.

- NZPA