Australia’s hopes of having Nick Cummins available for next year’s World Cup appear slim, with the 27-year-old’s Japanese club continuing to play hard ball over a possible loan deal.
Cummins was released from his Australian Rugby Union contract on compassionate grounds earlier this year so he could sign a more lucrative two-year deal with Coca-Cola West Red Sparks.
The switch has given Cummins the financial clout to provide for sick family members, but it appears set to cost him a dream World Cup berth.
Two of Cummins’ siblings have cystic fibrosis, while his father Mark has been diagnosed with cancer.
The move away from Australia means Cummins is ineligible to play for the Wallabies at the 2015 World Cup unless a deal can be brokered where he is either loaned out or released back to the Western Force next year.
However, that scenario seems unlikely, with Red Sparks keen to hang on to their marquee man.
Cummins gave a timely reminder of his worth last week with a barnstorming second-half display for the Barbarians in their 40-36 loss to the Wallabies.
After the match, All Blacks great John Kirwan said Australia should do everything they can to get Cummins back for next year’s World Cup.
The Force are equally keen to lure back the man fondly known as the “Honey Badger”, but the Perth-based franchise need to finalise their roster by December 31.
Only two spots remain open on the Force’s list after they signed former Blues utility back Albert Nikoro and ex-Chiefs/Highlanders winger Tino Nemani for the next two Super seasons.
Nemani made his Super debut for the Chiefs in 2012, before joining the Highlanders a year later to take his career Super tally to seven caps.
The 23-year-old, who spent last year playing for Bay of Plenty in the ITM Cup, represented the New Zealand Schoolboys in 2009, and the Fijian Under 20 side at the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship.
Nikoro, 22, was restricted to just five caps with the Blues after being hampered by a knee injury.
“Albert and Tino are both fast with the ability to beat defenders,” Force coach Michael Foley said.
“Tino is a powerful winger who is very physical both with ball in hand and in defence.
“And while Albert also has a strong running game, he is a goal kicker that can play 13, 15 and wing.”
Garry Edwards
Guest
Well Justin! You put it out there and the responses have been from a broad spectrum of Roarers who have shown and demonstrated why they are of their opinion. So you tell us, do you think he should be included in the preparatory squad?
Sportym
Guest
No he did not. I remember the second game v Brumbies and cummins was well out played by Speight. Approaching the end of the SR last year Speight was on fire! And why you looking at 2013, it's 2014!!!
Rugby stu
Guest
Did you not watch the Barbarians game?
Bakkies
Guest
Speight is fighting for some of his family to stay or get the right to come to Australia. He is also related to George so maybe they want a new start
Bakkies
Guest
He has the right attitude to play for Australia unlike a few who take it for granted
PAUL
Guest
Not sure why you are all getting down on him? He gave up on the RWC and decided to got o Japan to support his family, only for the Force and ARU to say he'll be welcome back anytime. So it was the Force that opened the door to hope. It wasn't like he said I'm going but I want back in. Red Sparks are not keen on a release, as is their right. I'm guesing Cummins accepts this and the talk of "dissapointment" is more fan based than from the man himself. Cummins is a great bloke, but it's not like he's Australia's greatest winger. He plays well on occasion but still has an ordinary set of hands and can't kick to save himself. We seem to have plenty of wingers who are straight up runners (Speight, Horne, Tomane), we need a more rounded winger with a boot while we have a Fullback who is also a runner.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Did he chose Australia above all others or have circumstances put him in that jersey? There are still those who like to believe everyone wearing their national jersey are doing so out of national pride and passion in the jersey however that is not the case anymore, i'm not saying this rings true for Speight, i'm just using it as an example. MONEY is a big motivator for some players and there are plenty of those players wearing International colors these days. Nobody will ever admit they are wearing a second choice jersey but there is no doubt in my mind some players are. When clubs lure players with incentives and big money, often the opportunity to play International rugby is offered also, sure you can be passionate and proud to wear that given jersey but it will NEVER reach the heights of those who are true to the blood and dirt passionate country men.
daniel
Guest
Yes I do think he would still be wearing green and gold. John Kirwan tried to get speight to return to the blues with the lure of a potential ab jersey. Speight said 'no' because he wanted to repay the brumbies and the wallas faith in him. That decision cost him 2 seasons of international rugby. Your right though it wasn't because of love of the jersey..... It was because of loyalty to the team. Still a pretty good motivation. Cummins is a great bloke and no doubt the wallabies would benefit from his presence (even if not starting) perhaps more than his playing. I hope something can be worked out. The man deserves his chance at history.
daniel
Guest
Yes I do think he would still be wearing green and gold. John Kirwan tried to get speight to return to the blues with the lure of a potential ab jersey. Speight said 'no' because he wanted to repay the brumbies and the wallas faith in him. That decision cost him 2 seasons of international rugby. Your right though it wasn't because of love of the jersey..... It was because of loyalty to the team. Still a pretty good motivation. Cummins is a great bloke and no doubt the wallabies would benefit from his presence (even if not starting) perhaps more than his playing. I hope something can be worked out. The man deserves his chance at history.
daniel
Guest
Yes I do think he would still be wearing green and gold. John Kirwan tried to get speight to return to the blues with the lure of a potential ab jersey. Speight said 'no' because he wanted to repay the brumbies and the wallas faith in him. That decision cost him 2 seasons of international rugby. Your right though it wasn't because of love of the jersey..... It was because of loyalty to the team. Still a pretty good motivation. Cummins is a great bloke and no doubt the wallabies would benefit from his presence (even if not starting) perhaps more than his playing. I hope something can be worked out. The man deserves his chance at history.
Crazy Horse
Guest
The Japanese and Australian seasons are different. His Japanese club has already said they'll let him play in the World Cup. It's getting him to play Super Rugby so under the ARU rules he's eligible that is the sticking point. I haven't quite figured out why as their season will be finishing not long after Super Rugby starts.
Crazy Horse
Guest
Look at Cummins vs Speight last weekend or for that matter in the last Force V Brumbies match in 2013. Cummins completely outplayed Speight on both occasions.
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
I agree. He will be missed but realistically lacks the necessary amount of pace to make him indisposable
Wardad
Guest
Exactly !
Wardad
Guest
Fair enough but when I joined the Army it was to give something back to this country , I think that a lot of players who do just enough to qualify are in it for themselves first . And if he was offered a place in the ABS do you think he would still be wearing green and gold ? Anyway good luck to him but I still think that the race doesnt always go to the swiftest nor the fight to the strong ,Cummins has that Aussie larrikin/mongrel factor that stopped the likes of the Germans cold at Tobruk ! And when things are tight like at Brissie thats what may well win the day .
Zero Gain
Guest
What, he didn't think of this before he signed the 2 year deal? Sorry, Nick, but a contract is a contract and when you go for the money, no matter how good the reasons are, you are bound by the conditions attached to that money.
Colin
Guest
We always play better when cummins is in the side sure there are more talented players but sometimes the Badgers playful piss taking demeanour settles our more highly credentialed players to play a more relaxed instinctive game speight might be a better athlete but give me the badger any day!! I get the fact that he is double dipping still when you make a decision based on compassionate grounds sometimes you still miss what you had beforehand totally understandable
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
Nick Cummins is in great form and if he was needed for the World Cup and Bob Dwyer was involved in the selection process then room will be made for him, irrespective of Japanese contracts. Japan after all is becoming part of the Super rugby competition and the Wallaby overseas playing eligibility rules will inevitably be blurred. Unfortunately for Nick Cummins he will not make the cut as there are a number of really fast and naturally talented wingers who will be ahead of him by September next year, and he won't be needed. Furthermore I think we will be looking at a couple of bolters on the wing to be playing in the World Cup squad who showed huge potential in the NRC; names many have not really considered yet. The same could also be said for front rowers too as there are some really big naturally talented young guys about to emerge. The value of the NRC is about to be realised by adding depth to the Wallabies in areas where it has been traditionally weak for a long time like the tight 5 and wing, and this is after only one NRC season! As a supporter of the Wallabies I am very excited about the future. So do we need Nick Cummins? No, because he will get blown off the park by the guys coming through.
IronAwe
Guest
Sorry Wardad, but this comment really rubs me the wrong way. Just because someone wasn't born here, (bearing in mind that 30% of our population aren't) doesn't mean they are any less passionate about the jersey and our country. Lets just respect the guy and love the guy for choosing to bleed on the field in the Gold jersey and not another one. Lets rejoice in the fact that he has chosen Australia above all others and support him like all the other battlers doing our nation proud on the field.
Madrid john
Guest
Fair point IronAwe. Not to mention how the Western Force would be stoked to have him back and they deserve a bit of good luck.