It seems logical. Mark Gasnier completes his contract with Stade Francais in June, signs with a Super rugby side for 2010, plays midweek matches on the Wallabies’ spring tour and heads to the 2011 World Cup. Maybe, maybe not, says Gasnier’s former coach in France, Ewen McKenzie.
The new Queensland boss is one of the few Australians to have any idea of how ex-NRL stars Gasnier, Sonny Bill Williams and Craig Gower have faired playing rugby in France, and what chance they are of lining up in New Zealand.
Gasnier is eligible for Australia, Williams for Australia, New Zealand and Samoa and Gower for Italy.
To be considered for the Wallabies, though, Gasnier and Williams would need to be contracted to an Australian Super rugby side for 2011.
For Gasnier that’s not a certainty, according to McKenzie.
“I think he’ll look at his options, but I don’t know what his timeframe is for decision making, I wouldn’t imagine he’d make a call until February maybe,” McKenzie told AAP on Friday.
“He’s still got a long way to go in the French season and he doesn’t want to be distracted by all that sort of discussion.
“He could well stay where he is, there’s a bunch of options possibly for him in Europe. I think he’s enjoying his time in Paris.
“I think all those things are feasible.”
Reports have suggested a homesick Gasnier has a return to the NRL and St George Illawarra on his agenda but McKenzie isn’t so sure.
“He’s not living on his own there, he’s got his fiancee there and she speaks French and her family’s French so there’s a lot of reasons to be where they are,” McKenzie said.
“They’re in a good part of Paris and have a good lifestyle.
“She’s working there so there’s a lot of reasons for them to keep doing what they’re doing.”
Publicity-hungry Melbourne join Super rugby in 2011 with Gasnier an obvious target while McKenzie isn’t ruling out anything for a player he says has covered all the outside back positions with aplomb during his time in the sport.
“I’ve got a good relationship with him, it depends what part sentiment plays in the decision-making process,” McKenzie said.
“I’ll talk to him, I’ve kept in touch with him but more on a friendship level than trying to push him into anything.
“He knows where I am and he knows the opportunities that possibly exist in Australia but it’s really a question about whether he wants to come back or keep doing what he’s doing.
“Only he can make that decision.”
McKenzie has seen less of Gower and Williams but he says the former Penrith half, who plays for Bayonne and is Italy’s incumbent five-eighth, is a “fait accompli” for the World Cup.
Williams has recently returned for Toulon from a long-term injury lay-off, playing in the club’s last four games at outside centre.
The former Bulldog, who represented NZ in league, has previously expressed a desire to be an All Black but is yet to commit to a rugby nation.
He would arguably be more likely to make a Samoan team.
“He might pop up somewhere. I don’t know, it depends on his contract,” McKenzie said.
“You’ve got to remember that the Samoans and the Tongans have been very competitive for the last few World Cups and they’ll mix it.”
King of the Gorganites
Guest
merry Christmas all. Let the war resume in 2010.
Barking Glider
Guest
King of the Gorganites you've stooped too low this time. How is an unwanted NRL and Super League player joining a 3rd tier rugby club, now living in Hull but developed in New Zealand, got anything to do with a breaking down in RL heartlands? Even by your standards that is delusional. Sad that you would trawl the web to find such stories and sadder still that you would post it here.
BN
Guest
And RU is failing in it own heartlands in Australia. Its as simple as that. And no matter how much spin you put on it King is not going to make RU seem bigger here. Its a dying code down under which the Administrators and fans (well except for you) are constantly debating on how to improve/save it. Lets put Union into perspective here. Australia- 4th biggest sport and falling fast. Europe- Maybe 4th biggest sport, behind the likes of Soccor, Cycling, Basketball, Handball etc. World- Not even in the top 10 (especially with paticipation rates). It is beaten by the likes of Soccor, Cricket, Field Hockey, Tennis, Volleyball, Ping Pong etc. So like most RL fans on this site I do realise that Union is bigger on the world stage but with the spin you put on it King you would think it was taking over the world when it clearly isn't. In fact it is starting to shrink at club level (even overseas) and if the grassroots die, the tenuous claim of Union being true world sport will die with it. I think the Adminstrators breathed a sigh of relief when Sevens was included in the Olympics (at least they Score tries in Sevens). This has help breath life into what has become a dull and boring game, especially at the international level that you hold so dear.
Master Blaster
Guest
Oh yeah. Big loss! The end of rugby league is nigh! "after being released by Hull, was unable to find another Super League club." Then the best he could do in RU was a "National League Two rugby union side." Take your blinkers off King of the Gorganites. You're becoming a tiresome bore.
Campbell Watts
Guest
I dont think Gaz is that great at union. The Top14 games I've seen he was a bit of a non-event - stuck out on the wing and had little impact when he got the ball. The Toulon game in particular comes to mind - I think he got burned twice for trys down his side! Gower will make it cause the Italians don't have much in the 10 department, and he's been playing quite well - he seems to have adjusted to the 15 man game well! Sonny won't get close to making the AB's I'm afraid!
King of the Gorganites
Guest
another example of league losing its heartlands...... http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/sport/rugby/tony-switches-codes-14607108.html
Campbell Watts
Guest
Dogs and Rugbyfuture, Your on-going spat is really getting a bit tired fellas. Some of us like to read these comments for interesting opinions and points of view. Take it somewhere private eh? Stop cluttering up the comments and leave the rest of us to debates.
Redb
Roar Guru
re Tv contracts and aggregrate ratings - can you provide an independent report? or where it has been published? Masters numbers are way out on the regular season cumulative TV audience according to other analysis.
Crosscoder
Guest
The NRL is unsustainable sheesh on its current format.They are being diddled ATM in the TV contracts ,but after the latest report showing on an aggregate basis they are more than matching AFL,methinks they are in for a far far better TV deal. And if we are talking about clubs having financial problems,suggest the Reds with their crowds are hardly setting the world on fire. "The ARC weren't actual failures".what is the definition of failure? small crowds,losing money,no TV interest.Oh that's right they gave some up and comers a go.The ARU spent large sums in advtg"you won't know them now,but you soon will" JON at least knew a dud when he saw one and this comp spelled it out in spades. Club union left this comp for dead in passion,committment and a times crowds and of course history. Just a little note on the worth of the Storm jumper by a survey group called Repucom in 2008 29/10."Melbourne storm have laid claim to the best value playing strip in australian sport.storm's strip has been estimated to return more than $15.8m for its 5 major sponsors.The return is an increase of nearly 40% from 2007.65% from 06,and 250% from 05. Storm's jersey front and back is valued at more than $4.2m" That is another reason in addtion to the money that teams being in a major city brings to TV contracts,that both News Ltd/the NRL will ensure the long term viability of that team. King of the G.You have done it again my friend"failed to expand beyond its heartlands".Since when is Victoria a rl heartland,and NZ Warriors is hardly in a huge rl area(the home of union). Sorry to disappoint but a the WARL is already plannning for entry into the NRL.And there are as many juniors playing rl now in WA ,as there were in the Perth Reds days.I can understand the Force would not be happy to have another competitor in their market.Especially one that entertains. Just a little reality check on your cynical shot at heartlands for rl..It was noted(in a NZ column) that the last RUWC of 2007 ,secured the overwhelming majority of its audience from the 8 countries where it has a decent presence.yet the game is supposedly played in over 150 countries.Maybe union shpould just stick to the 8 countires involved.Hey what!i Judging by the TV ratings 7s unions gets,they could have a nude event and it would barely blip on the radar in the city of churches,even with 80,000 or 4 billion in attendance..
Master Blaster
Guest
Face the facts King of the Gorganites RU in Australia is 4th placed football code. Your fortunate that there isn't another code for you to fall behind. Feel smug about RU around the world if helps you, but in Australia your code is irrelevant to most Australians lives.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
and to add that the teams werent actual failures the administration of the competition was, the teams set out a way to reduce costs in the next year but the ARU halted it because they werent thinking ahead
King of the Gorganites
Guest
the ARC was a semi-professional competiton at best. RU has proven that when it expands (i.e the Force) they do it successfully (except for fire-power). RL has plenty of money but the people simply did not buy it. face the facts RL has continually failed to expand beyond its heartlands. heard of the celtic crusaders? they have had to retreat to North Wales, a stone throw from RL heartland. they couldnt handle it down south where rugby is King.
Rod
Guest
Well if the RL teams are a failure, the Rugby Union should just give up completely seeing as every one of their ARC teams failed. Sound about right King of the Gorganites? I mean, it'd be a waste of time putting any union teams back in wouldn't it, they failed before so they'd fail again huh?
King of the Gorganites
Guest
the fact is that RL tried to expand into Perth and they failed. they cant od it again. the force simply are a force in WA. they will only get bigger now they are in a rectangle stadium. same applies for adelaide- RL failed in there expansion there. the RU 7's in March is going to be the biggest yet. early talk is a crown of over 80K for the 2.5 day event. stick to the heartlands RL (i.e a few counties in Northern England and sydney and Brisbane).
Rin
Guest
Ha ha Dogs of War you are nuts the Force are a success here in Perth, they have big money sponsors.... are pretty much the third biggest attended games in Perth after the Eagles and Dockers, the Western Reds are a joke, NRL is truely dead in the ground here, there are like 4 clubs sides with one grade and all they get is man a dog to come down and watch them while Union has plenty of teams that stretch from Colts to 5th Grade all the way to 1st grade...Perth is Rugby country mate (that is after AFL of course), ppl dont even know what league is over here.
Rod
Guest
rugbyfuture, you said it would be a huge rarity for a new club to be established in the sydney area given the idea that so many clubs already are financially implausible. What new club would that be and why wouln't a team from outside Sydney be considered? If you are talking about the CC, well they wouldn't be a new team, they'd be an old team. Plus wouldn't the NRL want an 18th team to stop the bye coming into play? Say somewhere like Perth?
JF
Guest
It doesn't matter how many people in QLD and NSW watch RL, or how much money the NRL make from this viewership, RL will always struggle to expand into new areas - simple. This is one of the defining features of RL - it is regional. Look at the UK, how far have the super league been able to expand in the last 100 years? Nth Wales, London? RL has true heartlands in Australia, heartlands where no other code will ever challenge them. RL should be proud of these areas and reward them with teams/games, not pour millions into expansion in some pissing contest with rival codes. For those who will say "If you don't expand - you die" maybe true, but isn't Sydney expanding? Isn't Brisbane expanding? Isn't the entire population of NSW, QLD expanding all the time? The reason RL will struggle to expand interstate, is that is chasing the same crowd that go to the AFL, both are 'the peoples game'. They both appeal to the same type of punter, this is why futbol and RU can succeed in expansion, but RL and AFL will not. RU will never challenge RL in NSW or QLD, it will never challenge AFL in the other states, but what it is good at, is creating an identity of an alternative. RL is seen as a direct competitor to AFL, RU is not seen in the same way, it will be able to attract a crowd and build a greater rugby culture in Melbourne.
jake
Roar Rookie
Siva State of Origin in Melbourne - 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2009 Test Matches in Melbourne - 1991, 2006, 2008, 2010 Id say Rugby League has had a vested interest here for a while. What the hell are you on about with these Indians and were all sure you have got a big shlong there's no need to bring it up on a sporting blog. My point with the storm grand final win being all over the front pages of the papers it that it is finally getting through to the public that they have a league team and that there quite good. I was in town today and saw three dudes wearing storm jerseys. Do you think the Rebels are going to conquer Melbourne from RL with the same or less coverage from the AFL mad media?? and no FTA coverage. The fact that NRL games haven't been shown on free to air at decent times over the storms last four years can only be explained as incompetence from the NRL. Its a missed opportunity, this is going to change though the demand will get too high. Dont worry about your junior clubs the VRL has 13. Whats more important is the profile that the Storm already have, there on TV adds and every thing. No but the Rebels will come in and take this all from them. Keep Dreaming bud
Joh4Canberra
Guest
@Dogs Of War: if you're going to pull rugbyfuture up on his spelling you'd better make sure that you get yours right as well. I spotted a "your" when it should have been "you're" in one of your posts. Anyway, I'm not saying this to be critical of you, but just pointing out that it's quite easy to make spelling mistakes when typing -- much easier in fact than when writing by hand. I find that when I'm writing by hand I don't really make any spelling mistakes but when typing on a computer I do. Something for you to bear in mind before commenting on what others have written.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
news ltd when they pull out will still have a moratorium on the first and last bidding rights for a few years down the line anyway, It would be a huge rarity for a new club to be established in the sydney area given the idea that so many clubs already are financially implausible. i do understand that the NRL is gaining figures, but overall the game is unsustainable.