League-bound Gasnier spurns Rebels
Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:47
Former Rugby League international centre Mark Gasnier confirmed his return to the code on Monday, signing with Australian club St George Illawarra.
Gasnier, who had also been approached to play with the new Super 15 Rugby Union outfit the Melbourne Rebels next year, said he had returned to the National Rugby League side hungry to win a premiership title.
"I'm ecstatic but, as I said, it's not about me and what I want to achieve, it's about the club and me fitting into the club," Gasnier told reporters.
Gasnier walked out on St George in late 2008 after promised sponsorship deals fell through, signing a two-year contract with French Rugby Union side Stade Français.
At the time, he admitted it was a tough decision. "The hardest thing was to walk away from the club, I love the club."
But with his contract with the Parisian club expiring this month, the 28-year-old was looking at options back in Australia.
Gasnier, who has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the Dragons, said he had no illusions about his return to Rugby League.
"I think I'd be kidding myself if I think I'm going to walk straight back in there and be fit as a fiddle and kill it, but I hope to do my best and where that may be we'll get a gauge of it and work hard on it," he said.
Gasnier, a nephew of former Australian Rugby League great Reg Gasnier, scored 77 tries in 134 NRL games for St George Illawarra after his debut in 2000.
He has played 15 Rugby League Tests for Australia, scoring 11 tries.
AFP
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