Wallabies duo Adam Ashley-Cooper and Benn Robinson have thrown their support behind a push for Kane Douglas to return to the NSW Waratahs in time for the Rugby World Cup.
The 25-year-old lock forward made the shock decision to forfeit his place in the Wallabies side last May to move to Irish powerhouse Leinster on a lucrative three-year contract.
Wallabies great Simon Poidevin this week led calls for the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and the Waratahs to engineer a way of luring Douglas back so he could be a part of the World Cup squad in the UK later this year.
Current ARU guidelines prevent players based overseas playing for the Wallabies and CEO Bill Pulver has maintained that stance won’t change.
However, Waratahs and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is believed to be keen to follow a similar path to New Zealand, who allowed All Blacks superstar Dan Carter to have sabbatical season in France in 2009.
Cheika was outraged the ARU didn’t try harder to keep a player that was Australia’s premier second-rower last year and an integral part of the Waratahs side that won a first Super Rugby crown.
The Waratahs open the defence of their title on Sunday against a Western Force side that boasts an excellent pack and prop Benn Robinson acknowledged Douglas’ departure is a huge blow.
“It was a massive loss Kane going overseas,” Robinson said.
“I’ve seen reports about the ARU looking at different ways of contracting and potentially having players who don’t play in Super Rugby playing in internationals.
“I think it’s disappointing with a player like Kane, who is still really young and was progressing so well.
“I know he loves being here with NSW but I guess we’ll just see how it goes with their contracting.”
Vastly experienced Waratahs and Australia outside back Adam Ashley-Cooper, who’ll play rugby for Bordeaux after the World Cup, said he’d love to see Douglas back in a Wallabies shirt after Leinster conclude their season in May.
“Personally I miss his him in the change rooms,” Ashley-Cooper said.
“He provides a lot of banter and chat and that’s very important in a teammate.
“On the field he brings physicality, he’s a big presence not only set-piece wise but he’s capable of pulling off those game-changing hits and he carries the ball really well.
“Any team would want to have him in their side. If there’s a campaign to bring ‘Dougie’ back then sign me up.”
Waratahs attack coach Daryl Gibson is the early front-runner to replace Cheika, who’ll focus solely on the Wallabies at the end of this season, and believes it’s important the sport stops losing young players to European clubs.
“With ‘Cheik’ involved he’ll certainly be more active in contracting at national level and wanting back a number of those players we have lost to overseas,” Gibson said.
“I think for the health of the game in Australia that’s critical.
“I hope the key thing is the lure of the Wallaby jersey and if ‘Cheik’ can turn the ship around and make Australia a winning team then more players will stay in this country.
“Kane had an incredible season for us last year and he’s the kind of player we are going to miss.”
Conflict_Bob
Guest
Maybe it was AAC's love of seeing him in the changing rooms that was one on the reasons he left.....!
Who?
Guest
EXACTLY!!! Why does everyone think that one very strong season at the Tahs (where he benefitted massively from the work rate of the true hero of that pack, JacPot) means he was the best lock in the country? He couldn't run a lineout. He's not a strong jumper. He's one of our bigger locks, yet he doesn't push hard enough play TH Lock (proven by Simmons packing there when they shared the locking spots)... One good Super season in a very strong pack does not an all time Wallaby great make!!!
Martin English
Roar Rookie
Well, sorry, Chek, you've been replaced by a new messiah. In fact, there's time for two or three before the RWC actually starts (when does the ARU have to finalise the squad ?)
pjm
Roar Rookie
Where's he going to put his pet Dave Dennis if he comes back?
pjm
Roar Rookie
He has the same stats(height/weight) as Retallick, he must be as good they say.
pjm
Roar Rookie
Dean Mumm, haha good one.
RobC
Roar Guru
Cheika was v upset, when EM didnt rate him for the WBs. And Cheiks lost a key player for the Tahs. I guess, there's nothing stopping the WB coach to bringing him back to play for NSW. And oh, the WBs too. Good luck on that one.
jameswm
Guest
He was probably the premier Aussie lock in the Super season - and didn't get picked for the Wallabies as he'd signed to go os. Who was better?
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Yeah - but he does provide a lot of banter and chat in the changing sheds ...
Markus
Guest
Douglas played one fairly strong Test match and 13 below average ones. Being about the 4th pick lock at best at that point, he did not possess a spot to forfeit. He was definitely the strongest lock for the Waratahs last season, but that was out of a group of players of whom one had played his entire professional career as a flanker and the other could only play half a game. Waratahs does not equal Wallabies.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Is this actually serious? Douglas - Was a substandard Wallaby in his 14 tests. Played for a team with a poor line out and scrum in 2014. Is now apparently playing average for Leinster. "Cheika was outraged the ARU didn’t try harder to keep a player that was Australia’s premier second-rower last year". Nope. Never was in fact. Had a good 2014 Super Rugby season, but any lock that was part of a team with a poor set piece, cannot be considered Australia's premier second rower. In fact, the Reds duo of Horwill and Simmons, who had an average 2014, actually showed up Skelton and Douglas severely in a beaten side in their second game against NSW in 2014. Let's leave the concessions and making big efforts to engineer the returns of players to those who are actually very good players. Like George Smith in 2013. Perfect example. One of Australia's greatest ever players and was initially planned to play in the Lions series after a few games of Super Rugby, because he's good enough to bend the rules for.
formeropenside
Guest
Waratah duo, not Wallaby duo. The "Tah mates" club is alive and well, apparently. Just ask KB.
Mad Mick
Guest
Ex wallaby Poidevin should pull his head in and stop trying to be a showboat. He brought back John O'Neil. Wasn't that a fantastic idea. Now they cant afford to run the game. Thanks Poido
Mad Mick
Guest
Stop all this grass is greener stuff.Get on with it and play the cards you have in your hand.
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
Average at best - a state journeyman who is not truly test class a la Dean Mumm If only the Wararaths knew that sending a few of their players overseas rather than bring some back would better serve Australian rugby
MH01
Guest
assumtion being the Reds/Brumbies locks are going ? :)
Kane
Guest
Because taking 6 locks to the RWC is a great idea...
MH01
Guest
He is already in the wallabies......
Kane
Guest
But Will Skelton?
MH01
Guest
my concern is that Cheika is getting pulled into these discussions , and it shows his conflict of interest. While Kane might be a huge loss to the tahs, not sure to the wallabies. The title is also miss leading, I believe the same article is on SMH, though this title is changes to probably start a flame war :( which sadly I bought into..... Damn!!