More Australian talent heading overseas as Hugh McMeniman decides on stint in Japan

ANOTHER Wallabies backrower has decided to walk out on Australian rugby, with Hugh McMeniman set to leave.

ANOTHER Wallabies backrower has decided to walk out on Australian rugby, with enforcer Hugh McMeniman joining Australian skipper Ben Mowen.

Western Force’s McMeniman will leave for Japan at the end of this Super Rugby season, ending his 22-Test career.

Hugh McMeniman takes on Richie McCaw.

The 30-year-old, who returned to Test rugby last year to face the All Blacks, is a massive loss to Australia and particularly on the back of Mowen’s announced exit to France.

Sources in Japan confirmed that McMeniman, nicknamed “Madness”, will join Honda Heat on a three-year deal, where he will join former Force and Wallabies teammate Richard Brown.

McMeniman has previously played in Japan. He left Queensland Reds and the Wallabies in 2009, having played in the 2007 World Cup, to join Kubota Spears.

After a three-year absence, McMeniman returned to Australia last year, signing with the Force.

Following another sensational season in Super Rugby in 2013, incoming Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie revived McMeniman’s Test career by picking him as starting blindside flanker in his first game in charge of the national side.

McMeniman receives treatment in the Western Force’s game against the Brumbies last year.

But a shoulder injury suffered in that 47-29 loss to the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium ended McMeniman’s season, as he required surgery.

McMeniman started off the bench for Western Force against the Waratahs last weekend and showed his trademark aggression moments after entering play, getting into a scuffle with NSW’s hard South African import Jacques Potgieter.

At 200cm and 114kg, McMeniman was a valuable option for McKenzie given he can play in the second row and back row, and his natural aggression is both a weapon against the opposition and influence on teammates.

McMeniman at a Wallabies press conference with captain James Horwill in 2013.

McMeniman’s departure will cause further concerns at the ARU, who have seen a host of top-line stars walk in the past year.

The Telegraph has compiled a team of players who have already joined overseas clubs in the past year or will do so in 2014, that highlights the depth of talent now plying their trade overseas.

The defector XV: 15. Richard Kingi 14. Cooper Vuna 13. Digby Ioane 12. Berrick Barnes 11. Drew Mitchell 10. James O’Connor 9. Brett Sheehan 8. Ben Mowen 7. George Smith 6. Peter Kimlin 5. Hugh McMeniman 4. Sitaleki Timani 3. Salesi Ma’afu 2. John Ulugia 1. Dan Palmer.