The thought of being portrayed as a money hungry rugby player who turned his back on the Wallabies hurts Samu Kerevi. Eight months on and Kerevi is back in Australia – and the unbackable favourite to wear the Wallabies No.12 jersey against England | ...
The thought of being portrayed as a money-hungry rugby player who turned his back on international honours last year for the Wallabies cuts Samu Kerevi deep.In October, Kerevi, arguably Australia’s most dangerous player in the Rugby Championship, opted against travelling with the Wallabies for their European end-of-year tour. Two fellow Japan-based players, Quade Cooper and Sean McMahon, made the same decision, having already been selected.
However, as the Rugby Championship progressed – and the Wallabies kept on winning – the club versus country debate kicked off. Kerevi, Cooper and McMahon indicated to Wallabies management that they may not head north with the group, despite a World Rugby window allowing players to represent their country.The trio were respectful and cognisant of the clubs who pay their lucrative salaries. All three were included in the squad before pulling of from the three-Test tour.
“My club was very supportive,” Kerevi said. “I had to make a decision for what was best for the club in terms of where I sat. They didn’t need to let us go at all. It’s a great honour to play for your country but, at the end of the day, they’re my employers. But the assertion that Kerevi was abandoning the Wallabies, a team he grew up dreaming of playing for as a youngster in Fiji, stung badly.
Kerevi, Cooper and Marika Koroibete will be Dave Rennie’s three overseas picks when he announces his 35-man Wallabies squad for next month’s three-Test series against England.Kerevi during his Wallabies debut against England in 2016.The first of his 38 Tests came against England in Brisbane in 2016 in a series Australia lost 3-0 after a coaching masterclass from Eddie Jones.
Kerevi wanted to play club rugby on Saturday with his local Brisbane club team, GPS, but Wallabies staff said he’d be better off getting some rest before joining Wallabies camp on Thursday on the Sunshine Coast.
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