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09 Jan 2014
WALLABIES coach Ewen McKenzie has left the door open for Ben Mowen to return to the Wallabies after the captain's shock decision to quit Australian rugby at the end of the 2014 season.
The 29-year-old has decided to move to Europe, ruling him out of the 2015 World Cup. He is believed to be negotiating a deal in French club rugby.
Mowen had been installed as national skipper in his debut season for the Wallabies last year, replacing incumbent James Horwill.
The move will come as a massive blow for the Australian Rugby Union and Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie, who said Mowen's loss will leave a hole in the squad.
"At this point in time he's the incumbent captain, been playing No.8 and is a very influential player," McKenzie told Fox Sports News.
"His expertise particularly around line-outs and some of those areas of the game, he brings a point of difference. You miss those sorts of things, so we need someone else to step up.
"I'm here watching (the Queensland Reds) train and there's a bunch of young players out there looking impressive.
"It's the cycle of sport. Players leave and players arrive."
McKenzie believes that age is on Mowen's side if he does decide to return to Australia, and would welcome him back into the Wallabies squad.
"I don't burn bridges. He and I go back a long way and we've had a very good relationship. You never say never with these sorts of things," he said.
"From an age perspective, no, there's no reason he can't come back to play rugby in Australia and play for Australia again."
McKenzie wasn't surprised by Mowen's announcement, revealing he had been in talks with the ARU for over six months.
"We've been talking about contracts for a long time, going back to June last year.
"He has accepted a one-year contract to stay, but beyond 2014 he's obviously had a different perspective but that's the way it is."
The Brumbies skipper reportedly wants to put his family first, and the heavy travel schedule involved in Super Rugby and with the Wallabies had him missing time with his wife Lauren and daughter Eleanor.
More here: http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby-g...-1226797884322