Rich European clubs set to launch massive raid on Australia’s brightest talent

AUSTRALIAN rugby is bracing for a full-throttle attack on the country’s best talent by European clubs. So, can anything be done? Daryl Gibson doesn’t think so.

Israel Folau and Kurtley Beale during training today with the Waratahs at Moore Park after Kurtley signed a deal with London Wasps. Picture: Adam Taylor

RICH European clubs poaching Australian stars? Get used to it.

That’s the advice of Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson in the wake of Kurtley Beale’s huge $1.35 million-a year salary offer from Wasps, which could make the NSW star one of the richest players on the planet.

Gibson believes the huge sums of money being thrown at Wallaby stars is an issue only set to get bigger, and with “Giteau’s Law” now in play for elite players like 60-Test Beale, it is clubs like the Waratahs who will be the biggest losers.

In the past a big part of the Super Rugby clubs’ ability to fight off cashed-up European clubs was the fact players had to be based in Australia to play for the Wallabies.

The new ARU rules allowing players with 60 Tests or more to be picked from offshore means Beale can have the best of both worlds: the money and the caps.

“The money that’s being talked about, that’s a big sum of money and the 60-game threshold, that will hurt the Waratahs more than it does Australia. Because Kurtley is still available for Australia,” Gibson said.

“We are keen to keep Kurtley here. It is going to be difficult for him. That’s a huge sum of money.

“Rich European clubs coming here and picking off our biggest talent, that’s probably going to become more the norm that not.

“I don’t think we are a tipping point just yet but it is going to be a big issue for Australian rugby. We want our best players playing in our competition, and playing for the Waratahs. It is going to be an ongoing problem.”

The Giteau Law was widely praised during the World Cup, with Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell returning from France to be starting Wallabies.

But there are those in Australian rugby who feel increasing numbers of Wallabies will begin to also be tempted to shift offshore once they qualify via 60 Tests over seven years.

David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Benn Robinson are now eligible, and Michael Hooper will be nearing 100 by the time he comes off contract in 2018.

But Giteau’s Law players are only one category of concern: European clubs are also targeting next-tier players like Matt Toomua, Joe Tomane and Liam Gill, who are Wallabies but also Super Rugby stalwarts.

Hamstrung by the fact they can only pay a maximum of $220,000 to a player — and the ARU decides how much they’ll top up for the rest — Super Rugby clubs can only sell their program.

When asked if that was enough to trump a salary offer like Beale’s, Gibson said — without irony — “that’s the million dollar question.”

Gibson said the Tahs are pushing hard to Beale the proven benefits of the Waratahs “environment”, given the player’s history of having flourished with support around him in NSW and got lost without it in Melbourne.

No laughing matter ... Israel Folau and Kurtley Beale may not be teammates for much longer. Picture: Adam Taylor

“That’s going to be the challenge for him, I believe. The growth that he has made here, (in England) he is away from people he knows in terms of the team,” Gibson said.

“It’s a fresh start, and every time you have a fresh start in life, it has its challenges. I am sure he is weighing all those things up.

“(We are) Hopeful. As far as I know it’s not a done deal, and so we are hopeful he will reconsider his situation and go “you know what, the Waratahs is the best place for me”. And still be paid well. Probably not as well as in Europe.”

Meanwhile, Wallabies five-eighth Bernard Foley remains only a “50-50” chance to return from a shoulder injury and play against the Highlanders, and may possibly remain out even longer. Gibson said he wouldn’t rush him back.

“At the moment I am happy running with the backline as it is. We could tinker a little bit with our wings and so forth, but ultimately KB is running at ten and young Dave Horwitz is doing extremely well. Having Bernard out for a few more weeks, it would be tough on the team but we can cope,” Gibson said.

Originally published as Rich European clubs set to launch massive raid on Australia’s brightest talent