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Australian Rugby / RA

Quick Hands

David Wilson (68)
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12202401

Pocock’s salary is partially paid by a super rich guy who really likes Pocock’s environmental work and general ethics.
Look at that, Dave being an all round good bloke actually helps the wallabies, who would’ve thought.
Also apparently Folau was paid from the same guy until halfway through last year.. then was dropped. Pretty easy to guess why.

Based on results, the Wallabies need all the help they can get.
 

LearningCurve

Bill Watson (15)
The same answer could be given for the question

Has it stopped the exodus of potential and current test players going OS?

Good point, I don't believe it has. If players don't see an opportunity in the Australian setup (Duncan P at Reds the latest example) they will head offshore and if the money is right then why not? Having players who are eligible fly from the NH to Australia for a match and then back to the NH the next weekend like happened with To'omua and TPN last year is crazy and not good for the players.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
DP isn't who we should be worried about, it's Coleman. Starting Wallabies at the start of their careers (relatively) is the death knell


Absolutely. I feel like a big part of it is the commitment required to play for the Wallabies. For someone like Coleman, I wouldn't think the offer from an overseas club is going to be that much better financially. It's about cutting down the travel and time away from home for someone with a young family.
 

Derpus

George Gregan (70)
Absolutely. I feel like a big part of it is the commitment required to play for the Wallabies. For someone like Coleman, I wouldn't think the offer from an overseas club is going to be that much better financially. It's about cutting down the travel and time away from home for someone with a young family.
Kind of an odd decision to start a family when (by today's standards) relatively young, given the amount of travel time professional rugby players are inevitably exposed to.

Even if he lived in the UK and ditched Wallabies duties, he'd still travel a fair amount.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Kind of an odd decision to start a family when (by today's standards) relatively young, given the amount of travel time professional rugby players are inevitably exposed to.

Even if he lived in the UK and ditched Wallabies duties, he'd still travel a fair amount.


Sportspeople probably tend to start families earlier by today's standards because they often end up settled down and also in a high paying career earlier.

Also, Adam Coleman is 27. He's not exactly that young.

Even though he'd still be doing plenty of travel playing in the UK Premiership, most of them would be short overnight trips only. One advantage of being a professional sportsperson is he would probably have more time available on a day to day basis to spend with his partner and young child than most people in a full time career.
 

LearningCurve

Bill Watson (15)
The problem with guys with families shifting offshore is it can be difficult for the partner to adapt to living in a foreign country without family and friends, language difficulties etc. While the travel may be less the lack of familiarity and isolation can be difficult.

I think that if they go then they should not be eligible regardless of length of playing career - their choice. For some younger players the experience can be good and they may return an improved player.
 

Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
The travel won't just be less, it will be a faaaaaarking lot less............ traveling within Australia alone for Super Rugby is further than where he'll have to go in Europe.

And he'll be based in London, surrounded by Aussies.
 

Jets

Paul McLean (56)
Staff member
Also it's a right of passage for a lot of Australians to have two years in the UK after Uni before heading home to settle down. Most pro athletes miss out on this when all their mates are over there. I understand the attraction.
 
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