The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) on Tuesday rejected a request from the manager of Rugby League player Willie Mason to switch codes to Rugby Union because he did not fall in line with the ARU's plans for the next few years.
Following a fall-out with his National Rugby League (NRL) team the Bulldogs Mason could find himself unemployed by the end of this week.
In a desperate move Mason's manager Greg Keenan approached the ARU, which performance manager Pat Howard confirmed to the AAP also on Tuesday.
"There was an enquiry last week," Howard said.
"He [Keenan] asked us and we said we were not interested. I'm not sure whether he [Mason] would suit rugby and our focus is on tight five development at the moment," said Howard.
While Mason's negative comments about Union in the past - he said that Rugby Union was boring - wouldn't have stood him in good stead when his manager made the request to the ARU, it has become rather clear that the ARU has now accepted that the front row is an important component of the game and that Australia needed to improve in this regard.
Although Australia's front row frailties cost them dearly in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to England their vulnerability up front first became apparent in the defeat to England at Twickenham in 2005. Change is most certainly necessary.
Following a fall-out with his National Rugby League (NRL) team the Bulldogs Mason could find himself unemployed by the end of this week.
In a desperate move Mason's manager Greg Keenan approached the ARU, which performance manager Pat Howard confirmed to the AAP also on Tuesday.
"There was an enquiry last week," Howard said.
"He [Keenan] asked us and we said we were not interested. I'm not sure whether he [Mason] would suit rugby and our focus is on tight five development at the moment," said Howard.
While Mason's negative comments about Union in the past - he said that Rugby Union was boring - wouldn't have stood him in good stead when his manager made the request to the ARU, it has become rather clear that the ARU has now accepted that the front row is an important component of the game and that Australia needed to improve in this regard.
Although Australia's front row frailties cost them dearly in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to England their vulnerability up front first became apparent in the defeat to England at Twickenham in 2005. Change is most certainly necessary.
365 Digital
