According to reports in News Corp publications today, former Waratahs and Wallabies lock Kane Douglas is in line for a call-up to the 2015 Rugby World Cup squad.
Douglas is currently contracted to Irish club Leinster. His move there after the Waratahs won the 2014 Super Rugby title was rather controversial, considering he was one of the form locks in the country at the time, and a certain for Wallaby selection, either as a starter or off the bench.
Now it looks as though the ARU will do just about anything to get him back on the playing roster for the Wallabies, with the feisty second rower reportedly looking at being drafted in under Regulation 9, which allows players to be called up for Test duty over club matches.
But this flies in the face of the rule institutes just two months ago by the ARU, which states players need to have played 60 matches for the Wallabies, and at least seven years at Super Rugby level.
Just two months ago, ARU CEO Bill Pulver addressed this very issue, and how it was affecting Australian rugby.
“With World Rugby’s Regulation 9 (that requires clubs to release selected players to play for their country during approved Test windows) we clearly have the capability to do that. Maybe they’ll think twice about recruiting some of our players.”
Now it seems they want to go further by taking Douglas to the World Cup, who is currently recovering from a back injury.
Whether or not he signs for the Reds, as reported by the Daily Telegraph, he wouldn’t play a Super Rugby match before the World Cup.
Dan Vickerman was in a similar position during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but he came back for the end of the Super Rugby season with the Waratahs that year, just like Dean Mumm did this year. Mumm currently finds himself in the Wallabies squad.
Leinster confirmed the request in a statement.
“We are delighted for Kane and wish him well as he seeks the form and fitness required for selection for the Rugby Championship and, of course, the Rugby World Cup after that,” Leinster’s Guy Easterby said.
“We have been in discussions with the Australian Rugby union and with Kane for a few weeks now and we have made our position very clear.
“Kane is contracted to Leinster Rugby for another two seasons and we look forward to welcoming him back when his commitments with the ARU come to an end.”
This seems to be at odds with what Michael Cheika told News Corp yesterday.
“If he signs for a Super Rugby team then, of course, we’d be interested in him but otherwise he’s not qualified until he works out the contract he has with Leinster.”
So is he being sought by the Reds? If so, does that make him eligible for Wallabies selection, like Nick Cummins at the end of last season?
jeznez
Roar Guru
Fair assumption Birdy, also issues in our halves and outside backs. The coach is completely green as well and we have little idea what sort of selection he'll make when it comes to identifying our top 15/23/31.
Tulima Fualau
Roar Rookie
I am with the idea of bringing back key players like Kane in to da frame ... but to be realistic about wat is wrong with the wallabies and australian rugby and its been goin on 4 years... They need a permanent TIGHT HEAD PROP... they got 1 of the best loose head in da world at da moment by the name of Scotland Sio.. but to lock dat scrum against da big pack they need a good number 3..I also want to tell u fans dat wants Salesi Maafu back dat its wont gonna happen. He had hes chance .ARU should Invest on Alo Emile from Rebles n There is Alaalatoa brothers too from da Brumbies.. The ARU keep employin Guys from Agentina n to help fixed there scrum but They keep swappin players..I like Kefu as a player but hes not doin hes CORE ROLES is why hes in da team.. .SCRUM.. Lifting n Clean Ruggs ..the modern game is change dramaticly from when Australia had da best back line n average forwards n winning games n but not anymore...lots of team are targeting Wallabies set pieces to beat them... So ARU be wise n sort it out
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I'm speculating that the ARU have applied for regulation 9 to drop his value. Reports say we have a player that wants to come home and a coach saying he'd be interested if he wanted to come home. I'm speculating the ARU have made moves which do not impact them at all to facilitate that. You're speculating that the ARU are going to completely change their wallaby selection policy for a player who has never even excelled for them? But more importantly your insisting that's the case unless the ARU publicly denies this extraordinary change. Which is more likely?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
These figures are pure speculation. Georgina Robinson got to $370k on the basis that it was the value of his contract still remaining.
Bakkies
Guest
Leinster can only comment on abiding by IRB laws. It's not up to them to judge or discuss ARU eligibility protocol
Birdy
Guest
Seeing as about a dozen different locks have been mentioned for selection here, and no two posters seem to name the same two, can I assume that Roarers feel there might be a bit of a second row issue with the Wallabies.?
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yep, apparently Quade was only 150K to buy him out.
Not Bothered
Guest
Carter Simmons Skelton Arnold Coleman Jones Horwill He WONT be selected unless he plays Super rugby next year because they dont need him.
Not Bothered
Guest
Now you are getting it.
Not Bothered
Guest
Whos changing the selection rules? They will never select him unless he has signed for the ARU. If Kane plays in the WC he will be playing Super Rugby in 2016.
Not Bothered
Guest
"This" What exactly is "This" Nobody knows if the rules are being broken in the first place.
Not Bothered
Guest
Yes but what clubs say and whats reality is hardly ever the same. Has Douglas got 60 caps? No but Lienster say hes being released for international duty. Hmmm, somebody isnt telling the truth.
Who?
Guest
$250k? Would've been cheaper to buy out Quade! Much more marketable, AND the Reds don't have an alternative. Whereas they've already got Simmons and Neville at lock.
Jameswm
Guest
Sita Timani? Can't jump and half a yard slower than a statue.
ethan
Guest
Cart before horse? Pot kettle black, TWAS. Your speculation that Leinster are doing this to drop his value is different from my speculation of what Pulver's statement means should the ARU break the rules, but it is still equally speculative.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Article on rugby heaven says the Reds and ARU would be looking at about 250,000 AUD as a release fee to get him back early.
Adrian
Roar Rookie
And Ma'afu
Adrian
Roar Rookie
Absolutely yes for Ma'afu if we are into breaking the rules. Apart from being a rock in scrums, he's also brutal (but slow) in open play, and may suit Cheika. He's been in top form. Subject to form, the same goes for former Wallaby Timani, but maybe he and his brother didn't get on with Cheika.
MJB
Guest
Forget Kane Douglas: get back Sitaleki Timani and Peter Kimlin,
pjm
Roar Rookie
He was average before he left, he's not a hard worker.