Cheika: No O'Driscoll talks
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Waratahs coach Michael Cheika says he is uncertain whether he will follow up a strong hint from Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll that he would like to play in Super Rugby.
O'Driscoll told British media this week he would consider playing in the southern hemisphere competition when his current contract with Leinster ends in June 2013.
Cheika, who coached O'Driscoll at the Irish club, said he hadn't spoken to O'Driscoll since he took over as head coach of the Waratahs on September 18.
However Cheika wouldn't rule out a move for the British and Irish Lions international when O'Driscoll's contract expires.
"Obviously I know Brian very well. It is no secret that he is one of a number of top players over there who would love to come down and play in the Super 15," Cheika told AAP.
"I saw him before I left - I went to say goodbye. But we haven't spoken since. I wouldn't want to do that to him or the club. He is in the middle of a season, the Heineken Cup is still on and they are focusing on that.
"It is still my club and it is very close to me and I would not want to disrupt their season. That is Brian saying how he feels about things and what he might like to do.
"It would be a big decision for him to leave Ireland but the thought is there with all the top players they would all love to come down and have a try - there is no doubt about that.
"We don't have a marquee player... and whether we would go down that road is something we would have to discuss."
Comments
jamesliveinhope says...
@pkc1 unless he said "two hopes" then it looks like it might be on
Posted 13:31 17th October 2012
Centre12 says...
The Super 15 is the best rugby competition on earth, even more so than the WC due to the quality of each game, if I were a professional rugby player I would also want to test myself in the best rugby competition on earth, at the very least it would be a great experience.
If there weren't constraints like money and the chance of not representing your country I would imagine that there would be a lot more NH players opting to gaining some experience in the Super 15
BOD may not be in his prime but he definatly wouldn't be a push over if her were to go down at the end of the season, he might even surprise a few sceptics.
Posted 12:25 17th October 2012
BODsGODmisspelt says...
Absolutely no chance of him leaving Ireland. Irish pros are entitled to a massive tax break if and only if their last year (maybe more) of pro rugby is spent in Ireland. So he would be losing out on a substantial amount, close to a million possibly.
Posted 12:07 17th October 2012
Scrumpoacher says...
Just what Aussie rugby needs-another foreigner...go to Japan please Brian, we need to find our own players sorry mate. Could be good PR for us having said that...Cheers
Posted 10:16 17th October 2012
pkc1 says...
BOD on Irish radio this morning........ "There's two chances of me going over there"......... non-story lads.
Posted 09:59 17th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
BOD has always said he would like to travel for his last year or so. S15 is hardly an easy wind down to the career though. I would think Toulon would be fun and no need to play every weekend there. Closer to home for Lions and Ireland too.
Posted 09:59 17th October 2012
thedan1000 says...
if the warratars dnt want him the auckland blues will..
Posted 09:53 17th October 2012