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Elsom snubs ARU
Monday 06th April 2009
According to reports emanating from Australia, ARU bosses are furious after their attempts to bring star loose forward Rocky Elsom back from Ireland fell apart.
The Sun-Herald reported that Elsom has "all but confirmed" he will not be returning to Australia later this year to play for the Wallabies, nor in the Super 14 next year.
In 2008 Elsom joined Irish side Leinster for a one-year sabbatical after being given an early release from his ARU contract last year on "compassionate grounds" - believed to be related to financial problems caused by a property deal that went pear-shaped.
Elsom, who will play for the Barbarians against Australia in June, never signed a contract obliging him to return home, apparently the result of an ARU administrative oversight.
For former Waratahs is believed to be earning double what he was in Australia and has little intention of taking a pay-cut.
"Rocky was released on compassionate grounds and was committed to coming back to Australia this June to play for the Wallabies and was released on that basis," a source told The Sun-Herald.
"He gave his word that he was going to come back but nothing was actually signed. It was a massive oversight. He was released on a promise.
"Rocky's a pretty complicated bloke and he dragged out negotiations for so long that it [the contract signing] was overlooked. The ARU aren't happy and understandably so, but it's all worked out well for Rocky Elsom. Who's to blame him for taking the massive cash on offer?"
The 27-year-old is the target of a number of big-money offers in Europe, and his decision to play for the Barbarians is perhaps the biggest indicator of his intentions.
"The understanding of the agreement was that he was meant to be back playing for the Wallabies in June against the Barbarians, so with that in mind, I can't see him coming back anytime soon," the source said.
"He is already on big money over there and he's been such a hit that he's been offered even more to stay, I'd say. And I understand there are no shortage of clubs in Wales, England, France, Japan and elsewhere, who are in the market for his signature. He's a bloody good rugby player and he has a lot of opportunities to consider.
"They love him over there and he's very close to coach Michael Cheika. I think it's pretty safe to assume he won't be returning to Australia for a while longer, and that wasn't the basis on which the ARU agreed to release him. They're not happy."
For all their crying-foul, the ARU are reportedly doing little to help the Waratahs retain another stars. While full-back Sam Norton-Knight will continue his career with Cardiff Blues in Wales, Phil Waugh looks set to join Elsom after the ARU has officially refused to beef up the limited offer for the 'Tahs.
http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,,...USS_01DBC.html