World Cup lure too good to refuse as Matt Toomua joins Wallabies for Bledisloe Cup
AUSTRALIAN rugby’s midfield stocks have been given a huge boost after bringing back cricket superstar Ellyse Perry’s husband to play for the Melbourne Rebels.
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MATT Toomua could not refuse the chance to play in next year’s World Cup, revealing that was his prime motivation to return to Australia after confirming a new deal with Melbourne Rebels on Wednesday night.
The playmaker will leave English club Leicester despite being contracted until 2020, and will soon begin training with the Wallabies for the Bledisloe Cup against the All Blacks on August 18.
“Leicester have been fantastic to me throughout my time here,” Toomua said.
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“The option to return to Australia was something that did exist within my contract, only if a chance to represent the Wallabies was there and, with a rugby World Cup next year, was ultimately one I couldn’t turn down.
“As well as a chance to represent my country at a World Cup again, the return home also allows me to be closer to both my wife and family after nearly three years on the opposite side of the world.”
Toomua and cricket star wife Ellyse Perry will settle in Melbourne, before he heads back to Leicester for one last season, and he’ll then join the Rebels midway through the 2019 season as part of a two-and-a-half year deal.
“The Rebels are a club on the rise and I was really impressed after having a few conversations with [coach] Dave (Wessels) about his plans for the future,” Toomua said.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said Toomua would give his squad a huge boost in the key midfield department, and it’s expected he’ll play back-up to five-eighth Bernard Foley and inside centre Kurtley Beale in the first Bledisloe.
“I’m really excited that Matt has decided to return home, he wanted to come back to play rugby in Australia again and also to represent Australia again,” Cheika said.
“It’s a massive boost to the squad and adds to the depth that we’ve built for the broader Wallabies squad in a key position.
At this stage, Toomua will not be considered for selection in Friday night’s Bledisloe Cup trial at Leichhardt Oval.
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Originally published as World Cup lure too good to refuse as Matt Toomua joins Wallabies for Bledisloe Cup