Bernard Foley he has ‘unfinished business’ at Rugby World Cups but Olympics won’t happen
BERNARD Foley’s future has been the subject of much discussion in Australian rugby of late. While he says the horse has bolted on an Olympic sevens dream there is a reason for Wallabies fans to be cheerful.
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BERNARD Foley has given up on his dream of playing sevens at the Olympics but, in a positive sign for Australian rugby, the Wallabies no. 10 says he has “unfinished business” at the Rugby World Cup.
As one of “Big Three” off contract at the end of the year along with Wallabies captain Michael Hooper and star Israel Folau, Foley’s future has been the subject of much discussion in Australian rugby.
Securing the signature of Foley could arguably be the most crucial to the Wallabies being a shot at winning the Rugby World Cup in Japan next year.
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Where Hooper can theoretically be replaced with David Pocock and Kurtley Beale can step into Folau’s shoes, the lack of depth at five-eighth — particularly with Quade Cooper playing club rugby — has seen Foley’s bargaining position become very powerful.
The other no. 10s for Australian franchises currently are Jack Debreczeni (Melbourne), Kiwi Wharenui Hawera (Brumbies) and Jono Lance (Reds), and possible candidates like Beale and Christian Lealiifano are playing in the centres. Beyond that are youngsters like Hamish Stewart and Mack Mason.
Foley told the Daily Telegraph he been too focused on the Waratahs’ tough start to seriously contemplate his future, but the 55-cap Wallaby gave an encouraging signal that he plans to stay by saying second place at the 2015 World Cup was still in his mind.
“For me, really, the primary focus has been on this Waratahs season and making sure we get off to a good start. We were away for a while and had a month of tough footy, so it wasn’t in my mind,” Foley said.
“But personally I had a great experience at the World Cup last time and it feels like there is unfinished business there.”
Foley, 28, negotiated Australian rugby’s first ever flexible contract when he re-signed for three seasons in 2015. It saw him spend an off-season in Japan.
It wasn’t as well known at the time that Foley was also keen on a stint with the Aussie 7s team as part of the deal, in a bid to make the Rio Olympics. Foley was a former Australian sevens captain who won a silver medal in the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
But he was talked out of a crack at the Olympics because the Wallabies required his services against England and in the Rugby Championship in 2016.
Asked if he was considering having another shot at the Olympics in 2020 in Tokyo, Foley said “the horse has probably bolted on the sevens”.
“As good as it all sounds, the game is changing and has evolved so much,” he said.
“You do see some older blokes running around but not many. It’s probably not something I have thought seriously about since when I was going to do it (in 2016).
“There was an intention of trying to do that Olympics but I will be 31 next Olympics. You look at the guys coming through that sevens squad, they’re big boys. They’re 21-22 and they’re absolute weapons, with the physiques on them.
“The games are becoming two separate games. It is not as easy to give yourself a couple of months just to transform. A lot more goes into now especially with full-time programs. It’s not as easy to cross as it might have once been and I am not getting any younger.”
Cheika said recently he was confident about having Foley, Hooper and Folau available for the World Cup.
It is likely Hooper will be re-signed on a multi-year deal but Folau may look to sign a shorter-term contract and cash in the post-World Cup shopping spree that European clubs often undertake. Foley is known to be keen to play overseas at some point, too, but as a goalkicking five-eighth, his value will hold into his 30s.
Originally published as Bernard Foley he has ‘unfinished business’ at Rugby World Cups but Olympics won’t happen