Extra star power for State of Union

Sean McMahon, Will Skelton and Quade Cooper would be eligible for the historic State of Union series next year.

Will Skelton will be eligible to play for NSW in the proposed State of the Union series Picture: AFP

Sean McMahon, Will Skelton and Quade Cooper would be eligible for the State of Union series next year as Rugby Australia plans to relax rules to allow overseas-based stars to play.

The bold step would give the historic contest a huge profile boost as it seeks to match rugby league’s State of Origin concept as one of the must-watch fixtures in the rugby calendar.

Revelations last week of the potential NSW and Queensland teams, based on places of birth and club affiliation, can now be amplified with news that some of the biggest Wallabies stars based overseas can feature in the three-match series in 2021.

“Why wouldn’t you open it up to them?” RA chairman Hamish McLennan told The Australian.

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“We need more tent-pole events baked into the rugby calendar, and we will continue to create more event television for the game.

“We’ll consult with the Waratahs and Reds to get their views, but it would certainly add a lot of interest to the game.”

Other big names who could play in the series include Will Genia, Samu Kerevi, Bernard Foley, Izack Rodda, Rory Arnold, Sekope Kepu and Nick Phipps.

McMahon, 26, joined Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath in 2017 and hasn’t played for the Wallabies since.

One of the finest backrowers to have represented Australia, his return for the Queensland team would be warmly welcomed by the rugby faithful.

Skelton, who grew up in the western Sydney suburb of Seven Hills, would be a huge addition to the NSW team.

The giant lock last played for the Wallabies in 2016, before joining English club Saracens where he dominated the competition. But the club was caught breaching the salary cap and he signed with French team La Rochelle this year.

Reds favourites Cooper, Genia and Kerevi – all signed to Japanese clubs – would bolster an already impressive Queensland backline that can pick James O’Connor, Matt To’omua, Jordan Petaia, Karmichael Hunt and Tom Banks.

McLennan is the driving force behind the State of Union concept that is now part of the package presented by RA to prospective broadcast partners beyond 2020.

“My preference is a three-game series,” McLennan said.

“It’s the oldest winter code rivalry in the country, and NSW and Queensland have been playing for 130 years, so we need to make a long-term commitment to building a State of Union franchise. It will take years to build up.”

There is no misconception within the RA ranks that the State of Union would rival league’s State of Origin in its first year.

But McLennan is determined to invest in the concept and build it into an event that can attract global attraction over the next decade.

McLennan added: “We should also have an Anzac Day Test against New Zealand, as part of the Bledisloe Cup.”

That is another annual league fixture that rugby can incorporate into their calendar, but would have to do so in the middle of the Super Rugby season and get agreement from New Zealand Rugby.

The Daily Telegraph