ARU must change contracting guidelines to be any chance of retaining Israel Folau
THE ARU will need to get “creative” with its contracting if they’re to be any chance of holding onto Israel Folau beyond next year’s World Cup.
Wallabies
Don't miss out on the headlines from Wallabies. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE Australian Rugby Union will need to get “creative” with its contracting if they’re to be any chance of holding onto Israel Folau beyond next year’s World Cup.
That’s the growing belief in Australian rugby circles and one supported by Wallaby great John Eales who says something needs to be done to avoid the expected mass exodus after next year’s showpiece event.
Speaking on Fox Sports’ Rugby HQ, Eales said Folau could well prove to be the contract tipping point in Australia as clubs like Toulon get set to table massive offers.
“Well look there’s going to have to be moments in time when you have to be a bit more creative holding onto players,” Eales said on Rugby HQ.
“We’ve seen the All Blacks do it, giving people sabbaticals, and in the sabbaticals they can either have a rest or go and play on a lucrative contact overseas.
“So I’m sure we have to be creative in some different ways.”
The process of offering players a sabbatical has been used with success across the Tasman where the likes of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Conrad Smith have taken the opportunity for a break or to chase the big money on offer overseas.
That could well prove to be the blueprint for Australia especially with news last week that Folau was in the immediate sights of Toulon and that Will Genia was also high on the French shopping list.
Genia has already stated his desire to play offshore after 2015 and with Nic White and Nick Phipps seemingly moving ahead of the Reds No.9 in the Wallabies pecking order, the ARU may not make his re-signing a priority.
But in Folau they have the world’s most exciting rugby talent and a marketing dream, and therefore should consider all options when it comes to ensuring the fullback ace spends at least some time in the gold jersey post 2015.
Fox Sports rugby commentator and former Wallaby fullback Greg Martin said the time was coming when Australia would have to share Folau.
“Why can’t we (offer sabbaticals)? And we’ve discussed this before,” Martin said.
“But why can’t the Australian Rugby Union contracting; so after the 2015, in 2016 and 2017 let him (Folau) instead of going on the spring tour don’t worry about, we know he can play.
“Don’t worry about the spring tour he can go over to France and make another $300,000 and play their season and be back for halfway through the Super Rugby and then he’s ready for the Tests again. It’s called sharing.”
The Top 14’s upgraded broadcasting deal is tipped to see a spending spree on the southern hemisphere’s top talent after the World Cup and with no British and Irish Lions carrot to hang around for in Australia, some of the Wallabies’ best will almost certainly move on.
That has also raised the question of whether the ARU should relax its eligibility laws and allow players offshore to be selected for the Wallabies.
It’s a situation already in play in South Africa but one the ARU has shown little interest exploring for now.
Originally published as ARU must change contracting guidelines to be any chance of retaining Israel Folau