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Nice going Knuckles
Snubbed Paul England-bound
By Jim Tucker and AAP
May 15, 2007
DISILLUSIONED Australia stalwart Jeremy Paul is set to quit Australian rugby to join an English club rather than cop another slap in the face in the World Cup countdown.
The 72-Test hooker is believed to be seeking an immediate release to pursue playing plans in England from July after his shock non-selection in a 37-man squad of Wallabies contenders which is gathering today for a camp in Sydney.
Paul, 30, had always planned to finish his career in the homeland of his English wife Sophie but had scheduled the move for after the World Cup's conclusion in October.
Paul has every right to feel he is on the outer of Australia's plans for the cup.
Not only have Queensland's Stephen Moore and New South Wales Waratah Adam Freier been picked ahead of him for the camp, but project hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, 21, is also likely to attend.
Paul's form was superb over the final month of Super 14 for Brumbies when his side was playing in virtual sudden-death games each round.