Star Brumbies lock Sam Carter will leave the Super Rugby club at the end of the 2019 season for a stint in Europe.
Carter’s two-year deal with Pro14 club Ulster is close to being finalised and an official announcement is imminent.
The Brumbies announced the departure of their former co-captain on Thursday through Twitter, but the post was quickly deleted.
A former Wallaby, Carter made his debut with the ACT franchise in 2011 and has played 105 games.
He last played for Australia in June 2017, having fallen out of favour with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.
But the move abroad is expected to rule him out of calculations for the World Cup, starting in September, and leave him on 16 Wallabies caps.
Carter’s move to the Belfast-based club will be full-time, compared to Brumbies teammates Christian Lealiifano and Henry Speight’s short-term loans at Ulster.
His departure will leave the Brumbies short on locks in 2020, with fellow big man Rory Arnold also set to move overseas and link up with French club Toulouse.
Cynical Play
Guest
"Ludicrous" eh? If I had a $ for your every use of that word when responding to my posts... You've failed to consider their contribution to the squad over the international window (ie Toomua this year). The Giteau rule is flawed and ineffective. This old Roar article was a good point: https://www.theroar.com.au/2017/10/26/why-the-wallabies-must-select-overseas-players/ but this idea really got my attention https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/mar/05/rugby-australia-should-buy-european-club-to-tap-into-northern-wealth
John R
Roar Guru
Or they could develop another international class lock, like their system has done with their other 3.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
All the best Sam. Good player for the Brumbies, and worth trying at the Wallabies for his caps, but was always far too upright in contact. Still, a good honest footballer and good club man by all accounts. Bit like Dave Dennis for the Tahs, leaving at a similar stage, similar number of caps for both club and country and a similar age. Still got some years ahead of him, so enjoy the cash!
rebel
Roar Guru
You manged to read between a one line comment, well done.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Interesting. That's a good result for Aus Rugby if he is going to sing elsewhere, as it only rules him out for EOT at best. Can still play Super Rugby as opposed to Europe where he'd be 100% gone.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
You still don’t get it do you? What’s the motivation to bring in a player like Carter or Skelton? Well, let’s take Skelton. Saracens are trying to win the league and European Championship. They need a fourth lock. They want him to be international class. Now they could go and buy someone on the fringes of, or in one of the home nations squads. But the problem is they’ve already got three international locks who go away on international duty for 16 weeks during the season; step off the pitch and jump on a plane in June; and/or get beasties with the Lions and miss preseason. So they get an international lock in Skelton who is going to be at the club week in and week out and can step up when the others are away. Of course, in your mind, they’ve bought Skelton so that Itoje, Kruis and Isiekwe can sit at the great man’s SH feet and learn how to play lock. It’s hilarious.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
Great servant to Brumbies Rugby...thanks Sam. Canberra Times also reports this morning that Kerevi is likely to sign a $1 million dollar a year deal in Japan post World Cup, probably with Suntory.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well it does. Hence why we are losing Carter, not Rodda, Sakaia-Lotto and Simmons - the most regularly selected Wallabies. It's ludicrous to suggest that players arriving form the NH on the Monday or a Tuesday of a test is conducive to a successful environment. England, Ireland, New Zealand are all having training camps in the lead up to tests and we are hoping NH clubs don't run our players under the ground before our tests. Sounds like success. That's before we even consider that players will only be available for 12 tests of the year. And us and the All Blacks regularly play 14. Guess we'll just play the 3rd Bledisloe with a B team hey?
Cynical Play
Guest
It's time to scrap the Giteau 'rule'. This new landscape of numerous test level players working overseas needs to be accommodated realistically in a country where international standard rugby players are thin on the ground. Grow up RA. Pick the best players in the position for the WBs, no matter where they play. Scrap the Giteau 'rule'. It has no influence on players choosing where they play it seems.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Surprise surprise, they still need to buy players. So much for the northern ‘depth’.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So Carter has been in better form than all of these players? They may not have been world class - but that doesn’t mean Carter is better. He has been tried in the past but those players all showed more promise at test level.
Realist271
Guest
Rodda and Simmons have been poor imo. Simmons especially just never delivers in gold. Salakaia-Lotto ? Lol. Whatever dude. Coleman has not performed for a long time. This decision is another poor reflection on Cheika where a bloke just knows form won't matter.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah. He probably played what he deserved. Behind Coleman, Rodda. Arnold and Salakaia-Lotto definitely. Was similar to Simmons with less LO prowess. Been a great Brumby however and deserves to finish his career with a well paid adventure.
Bobby
Guest
Another bloke passed over by Cheika, bit like Arnold. He sho u ld have played more tests but ? Good luck lad, I hope you enjoy Ireland.