'Car-less' Cordingley off to France
Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:51
Wallabies and Reds scrumhalf Sam Cordingley will join French second division club Grenoble on a two-and-a-half year deals.
Cordingley's decision effectively ends the 32-year-old's Test career after 14 appearances for the Wallabies, mainly off the reserves bench, and improves the chances of Waratahs' youngster Luke Burgess taking over from the retired George Gregan.
Cordingley, who is out of the Reds' line-up with a calf injury, informed club officials of his decision on Wednesday, leaving a hole in the Reds leadership ranks for next season.
The experienced No.9 this month indicated he intended to re-sign with the Reds for two more years and then move into a coaching career with the organisation.
But he later learned that a key component of his Reds package, a car, had to be dropped, reports said.
"It was totally out of the Reds' control and I don't blame them for it, but I felt a vital part of the deal had fallen through," Cordingley told The Australian newspaper.
"At about the same time, Grenoble came back and said I could have a year-and-a-half contract or a two-and-a-half year contract, take my pick.
"The Reds are offering two years or so, at my age, that extra six months playing in France is very attractive.
"Of course, I'd love to continue playing Test football this year but I realise [that] by signing with a French club it might have some impact on my chances," he concluded.
AFP
