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Ben Mowen’s sudden decision to quit Australian rugby for France next season makes no sense. It’s beyond belief that being the Wallaby captain, the highest honour the code can give, isn’t enough to stay put.
It’s foreign to Mowen’s very nature.
At everywhere he’s played since he captained the Australian under 19s out of Queensland, and the Australian under 21s in 2005 at the Junior World Cup in Argentina, Mowen has been the ultimate in dedication, pride, and passion.
Yet, Queensland let him go in 2007 after just one game, and NSW let him go after 40 to slot in an injured Rocky Elsom in one of the dumbest decisions of the century.
The Brumbies swooped with a double coup, signing not only Mowen but the Springbok Rugby World Cup winning coach, Jake White.
For the first time in his Super Rugby career Mowen was instantly recognised as a leader by White ahead of long-term Wallaby hooker Stephen Moore.
And the Brumbies made it through to the final, losing 27-22 to the Chiefs, with Mowen given his rightful credit as being instrumental in the Brumbies success.
Come 2013, for the first time, and overdue, Mowen made the Wallabies, playing all 15 Tests and captaining the side for six of them, including the last four successive wins of the UK Spring tour.
All his dedication, pride, and passion were justifiably rewarded, with the distinct possibility of captaining the Wallabies to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Yet Mowen opts for a three-year contract in France because he wants to be closer to his wife and young daughter.
That doesn’t cut the mustard. It’s very anti-Ben Mowen.
Had the ARU not been so inflexible on the two-year qualification for any Wallaby to be considered for a contract top up, Mowen would not be uprooting his family to a foreign country where they know precious few people.
Especially as the same ARU saw fit to give Israel Folau the top up in his rookie year as added bait to switch codes from the AFL.
Yet, deny the Wallaby captain.
For mine, it’s the first black mark for ARU boss Bill Pulver since he took over from John O’Neill.
And because of the ARU inflexibility, it’s the first time any Wallaby captain has turned his back on Australia.
But don’t blame Ben Mowen.
Thankfully, the Brumbies have stuck solid with Mowen who will be again be their Super Rugby captain this season, even though future Wallaby captain David Pocock is back from long-term injury and raring to go.
And Mowen will still be eligible for Wallaby selection this season for the three Tests against France.
But the Wallabies pay has been cut from $13,100 a Test to $10,000 as the ARU tightens its financial belt.
That too may well have played a part in Mowen’s ultimate decision, with his contract money in France guaranteed every game.
But that’s only clouding the real issue: that Ben Mowen should have been better treated from the get go.
Now it’s too late.