French lead raid on rugby carcass

Rugby Australia is facing a player exodus as rich foreign clubs circle some of the game’s biggest stars.

John Eales medallist Marika Koroibete has attracted interest from foreign clubs and NRL teams Picture: Getty Images

Rugby Australia is facing a player exodus as rich foreign clubs circle some of the game’s biggest stars including Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete and young gun Harry Wilson.

The Australian understands over a dozen of the country’s best players have been sounded out by French, UK, and Japanese clubs, as the code in Australia faces an uncertain financial future without a broadcast deal beyond this year.

In the past month French clubs are understood to have approached a number of Test players, or their agents, including Waratahs backrower Jack Dempsey. One of the game’s rising stars, Queensland No 8 Wilson, is also being circled by French clubs.

The “Tongan Thor”, Reds tighthead prop Taniela Tupou, is also believed to have been in talks with Toulon in recent weeks.

Koroibete, the reigning John Eales medallist, has not only attracted the interest of overseas rugby clubs but NRL clubs are interested too with the winger having forged his professional career at Wests Tigers and the Melbourne Storm.

Koroibete’s manager Sam Ayoub confirmed to The Australian that his client had been approached by top NRL clubs as well as Japanese, French and English clubs.

Ayoub added the reigning John Eales medallist hadn’t ruled out a return to rugby league because of Rugby Australia’s uncertain financial future.

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“Both international and NRL clubs have made inquiries and at this stage we have discussed the inquiries with Marika, obviously we are conscious of his contractual obligations, but we also have concerns about what is happening in rugby circles,” Ayoub said.

“There is nothing untoward but we can’t dismiss the inquiries. He is the John Eales medallist so he is very well sought after.”

In September last year Koroibete inked a two-year contract extension to remain with RA and the Melbourne Rebels through to the end of next season.

The Australian understands many player agents are either actively approaching or being approached by overseas clubs as the dire financial state of rugby in Australia has uneased the playing ranks.

A return-to-play date for Super Rugby is yet to be set nor has a new broadcast deal for a COVID-19 impacted competition been secured.

Rugby faces financial collapse domestically with Optus and Fox Sports both turning their back on the struggling code, leaving the game currently with few, if any, options for broadcast revenue beyond 2020.

A World Rugby loan of $14.2 million will cover off 2019 debts but questions remain as the game struggles to stay afloat.

The existing television deal, signed in 2015 and running through to the end of this year, was worth a total $285 million, giving RA $57 million a year.

Late last year RA walked away from an extended $200m five-year deal offered by Fox Sports (owned by News Corp, publishers of The Australian).

There has not been another formal offer to the embattled code from any broadcaster since. The news of players being approached by overseas clubs, comes on the back of Reds trio of Wallabies lock Izack Rodda, Isaac Lucas and Harry Hockings indicating they were considering their futures earlier this week.

On Monday the Reds trio of Rodda, Lucas and Hockings came under intense scrutiny and criticism for letting their teammates down.

The Queensland Rugby Union stood down the three players.

The QRU said the players had refused to accept a reduction to their salaries and would not nominate for the federal government’s JobKeeper subsidy.