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Michael Hooper and fellow high-earning Wallabies free to soon star in the Gallagher Premiership - report

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The Gallagher Premiership could be poised to play host to a number of Australia’s leading international players on short-term deals next season. Swingeing pay cut arrangements are finally set to be confirmed by Rugby Australia on Monday following lengthy discussions with the Rugby Union Players Association.

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However, to compensate for the loss of earnings, Rugby Australia are believed to have agreed that a half-dozen of its top stars will be permitted to seek out six-month contracts overseas outside of the international Test window. 

A Sydney Morning Herald report is claiming that players such as Michael Hooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua and Dane Haylett-Petty will be given the green light to take a leave of absence from Super Rugby and secure short term contracts in places such as England and the Japanese Top League before returning in time for the July 2021 Test schedule.

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The measure has apparently been agreed by way of acknowledging the long service the likes of 2019 World Cup skipper Hooper has given to the Wallabies, but this same leeway to temporarily leave on a sabbatical won’t be afforded to up and coming stars such as Taniela Tupou, Allan Ala’alatoa, Jordan Petaia and Isi Naisarani. 

Any departure of headline names would be a serious blow to Australia’s struggling Super Rugby franchises but with the country’s hugest earners volunteering to take cuts as high at 65 per cent for six months, it was felt the authorities were in no position to prevent these players from having the contractual flexibility to head abroad and make up for lost earnings.  

Finances in the Australian game are at a seriously low ebb with Rugby Australia set to apply for emergency funding from the relief fund established this week by World Rugby.  

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Hellhound 16 minutes ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

I'm no fan of Du Point, but I am not blind. I will go as far as agree to disagree. Without him the French wouldn't nearly have been so good. He has made game saving tackles, he has steered the French to victory in most of his games. He creates try assists that should not have been.


His kicking is very accurate, and if he was a Bok, he would be in the team. Roigard is very good, but he is no Du Point. He is a generational talent. You dislike him BECAUSE everyone is so hyped about him, NOT because he is a very good player.


It's the same with me. It irritates me, but I am not blind. ANYONE saying he isn't good, is definitely lying to themselves. Do yourself a favour. Go and look at highlights about him on YouTube or somewhere. Really have a look. Without prejudice.


He isn't as lucky as other players to have the kind of players like SA and NZ have, although currently the French forwards is the biggest on the planet. To my shame I must admit that every game I see him play, I hope someone injures him which is very very wrong. It's just that he is THAT GOOD. There is no other players that I ever wished for that, because they are just not in his class.


No, stop lying to yourself. Go look at his stats. He is responsible for at least 60%-70% of the French score every game. Creating tries, scoring himself or assist, pin point kicking, creating gaps, tackles like a machine, slippery as hell and always tries to dominate a ref which is starting to count against him, but don't be fooled. I haven't even mentioned half of what he does. He inspires that team in a way other players can never do.


There is no other scrumhalf in the world like him, and there will never be again. I hate the French and I hate Du Point, but there is no denying his talent. If he played for your team, you would have raved and absolutely loved him. That is not to say Roigard isn't good. He is very good too.

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