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Delve weighs up Rebel future

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:07

Melbourne bound? Gloucester skipper Gareth Delve

Wales back-row forward Gareth Delve is contemplating the chance of joining England exile Danny Cipriani at new Australian Super 15 side Melbourne Rebels next season.

But Delve, captain of English Premiership side Gloucester, was only recalled to the Wales side for this weekend's Six Nations match away to Ireland on Tuesday and he knows that a move to Melbourne could scupper his hopes of appearing at next year's World Cup in New Zealand.

And at 27, the injury-plagued Delve does not have as much time on his side as the 22-year-old Cipriani.

Saturday's match at Croke Park will be the first time the nine-times capped No. 8 Delve, in for injured Wales captain Ryan Jones, has started a Six Nations fixture and the Gloucester captain said his options were still open.

"In terms of negotiations, the people I have been speaking with I have been speaking with for a little while now," Delve said Tuesday.

"I need to make decisions based around the future as much as the present.

"The World Cup is a huge draw. I haven't had the best of times with World Cups in the past, so the chance to possibly make one would be fantastic.

"I have been in the mix for the previous two World Cups and picked up injuries just beforehand.

"These [career] decisions have got to be based around fantastic opportunities that present themselves, but also big sacrifices.

"Some of these decisions are based around opportunities I will never actually get again, and that is what I am weighing up," he added. "That is why it is taking so long to come to a conclusion.

"Certainly, the World Cup and international prospects weigh massively on the side of staying here.

"I am seeing this for what it is. I have been called into the team this week to perform against Ireland, and if I do that then hopefully there is another chance for me the week after.

"In terms of international aspirations, I spent a long time maybe feeling a bit disappointed that while being involved with the squad for a long time I had never quite got that chance, that start.

"I have got a chance on Saturday that I am hugely looking forward to, and it is a case of looking at everything from a pretty wide angle and seeing what would be the best in the long term for my whole career."

Turning to frustrated flyhalf Cipriani, who has signed a two-year deal with the Rebels, Delve added: "I did see Danny on Sunday after the Wasps-Gloucester game. They beat us though, so I wasn't really in the chattiest of moods!

"I think it is a great opportunity for him.

"He is on the periphery with England, and from his perspective if he is playing well against the likes of [Dan] Carter, [Matt] Giteau and [Morne] Steyn then he is obviously doing something right and he is going to come back a better player.

"One of the huge attractions with Super 15 rugby is to see if I would be capable of going down there and mixing it with them on their home patch.

"But things seem to be changing from week to week at the moment. I think it will be resolved sooner [rather than later]. I am not going to drag it out any longer than needs be.

"I have got enough going on in my head learning the lineout calls right now, so all the contract stuff can go to one side."

Veteran flank Martyn Williams will captain Wales in Jones's absence while British and Irish Lions hooker Matthew Rees and lock Luke Charteris return to a side beaten 26-20 by unbeaten tournament leaders France last time out.

AFP

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