ARU's radical move to retain Giteau
Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:21
French connection: Matt Giteau and Dan Carter
The Australian Rugby Union is ready to offer flyhalf Matt Giteau the Wallabies captaincy in order to ensure he stays true to his contract till 2011.
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald Giteau will captain the Wallabies at the World Cup in 2011 if he turns down a lucrative offer from French club Bayonne.
Giteau has confirmed that he had received a four-season offer worth AU$9.6 million to play for the French Top 14 side, Bayonne.
Now, it seems, the ARU will launch a counter 'offer'.
Although current skipper Stirling Mortlock is hoping to stick around until the 2011 World Cup, there are some doubts over his ability to last another three gruelling season at the top end of the game - especially his recent history of serious injuries, including the concussion he suffered in the 18-21 loss to Wales at the weekend.
According to the Herald Giteau is "high" on the list of candidates to replace Mortlock.
Giteau, who is contracted to the ARU until the end of the 2011 season, needs an ARU release if he wants to play overseas.
Without that release, the overseas club or province is prevented by the IRB from registering him, and so cannot play him.
The ARU is unlikely to grant Giteau an early release. The ARU looks upon Giteau as one of its key players in 2011 World Cup plans.
Unlike the New Zealand Rugby Union, which has allowed All Blacks flyhalf Daniel Carter a "sabbatical" to play in France, the ARU has no interest in following a similar course.
The ARU wants its key players involved in the Super 14 tournament and strictly stipulates that only those who are part of the local competitions are eligible to play for the Wallabies.
The ARU has been firmly opposed to selecting overseas players for the Wallabies, as shown recently when the board stopped moves to make Rocky Elsom, now playing in Ireland, available for Australia on this end-of-season tour.
* Should they let Giteau go?
