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21kg shed in 18 months: Will Skelton sacrifices World Cup for Saracens

Saracens forward Will Skelton. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Former Wallabies second rower Will Skelton has finalised what he’s described as the toughest decision of his playing career.

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The 27-year-old is expected to sign a two-year contract extension with Premiership club Saracens on the eve of their monumental Champions Cup final against Leinster this weekend in a deal that will rule him out of contention for this year’s World Cup in Japan.

Despite some late persuasion from Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who is looking to bolster his stocks in the underperforming lock department, Skelton is set to extend his stay in London with the club that has helped him shed 21 of his 140kg in 18 months, propelling him into career-best form.

Starring in an all-star squad that features internationals such as Maro Itoje, Owen Farrell, the Vunipola brothers, Schalk Burger and Liam Williams, Skelton falls well short of the required 60 test caps to be eligible for Wallabies selection while playing overseas, with just 18 tests to his name.

“I had some chats with Cheik at the start of the year and my manager has spoken to him a lot,” he told AAP.

He was trying to get me back home and there were some [Super Rugby] offers but it is difficult because I’ve agreed to stay here.

“There’s still a few bits and pieces to nut down but I am close to signing a new deal here.

“It was a massively difficult decision given the World Cup is this year but if the rules change in the future I’ll always put my hand up to play for Australia.”

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Skelton’s rise to prominence at Saracens hasn’t come easily, however.

Head coach Mark McCall warned his star man upon his arrival at the club in 2017 that he’d never fulfil the potential that he showed when he debuted with the Waratahs at the age of 19 unless he lost some weight.

“Will’s been a revelation since he came over here,” McCall told AAP.

“But he’ll be the first to admit he’s been a bit a slow burner.

“He’s always been a huge talent and able to bring something to a team that other players can’t, not only because of his size but his skill set as well. But what we needed from Will was for him to have a bigger impact in games and the only way to do that was for him to lose some weight.

“He’s done that through his own single-mindedness.

“The club love him, the coaches love him and the players love him, and we want to keep him.”

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After helping steer Saracens to their fourth-ever Premiership crown last season, Skelton’s side look on track to at least seriously challenge for back-to-back titles, but before then, a European showdown with Leinster awaits in Newcastle on Saturday.

Saracens won the last of their two Champions Cups in 2017, and standing in their way of claiming their third European title in four seasons is Leinster forward and Skelton’s former Australian teammate Scott Fardy.

“Fards’ always tough, he is a great player and great bloke, as well,” he said. “He’s gone over there and added value to Leinster and help make them successful.

“It will be a great challenge and I am looking forward to it – these are the games every rugby player wants to play in.”

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J
JW 16 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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