Prolific-scoring utility back Peter Hewat is looking to quit Australia and play overseas after being shunned again by the Wallaby selectors in World Cup year, reports said yesterday.
The NSW Waratahs back was among a small group of provincial players who received the cold shoulder when selectors announced their 59-man train-on squad on Monday, which will provide the players for the early domestic Tests and Australia A matches.
Hewat, 29, missed out along with Wallabies Tai McIsaac, David Croft, Matt Henjak, Scott Fava, Gene Fairbanks and rugby league import Clinton Schifcofske.
With the Wallabies' selectors announcing a large train-on squad, it was originally assumed there would not be too many disappointed players, considering the number of spots was virtually the same as the available starting positions in the four Australian Super 14 teams.
But the realization that he is not regarded as being among the top 59 players in the country has dawned on Hewat, despite another prolific season for the lowly Waratahs.
Hewat finished as second-leading Super 14 season scorer behind the Waikato Chiefs' Scott Donald (164) with 156 points from two tries, 19 conversions and 36 penalty goals.
In 40 Super 14 appearances for the Waratahs, Hewat has amassed 520 points.
"I'm disappointed but not surprised by the news," he told yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald. "It's clear what their [selectors'] position is and with a couple of significant offers from overseas, I'll be catching up with [Waratahs' coach] Ewen McKenzie as soon as possible to sort out 2007."
"Playing for Australia has always been my ultimate goal. But if the door is shut on that opportunity then it's time to move on," he added.
The Waratahs have already said that if the Wallabies continued to ignore Hewat, they would not stand in his way if he wanted to immediately accept a lucrative playing contract in France, England or Japan.
Despite being a prolific scorer for the Waratahs, Hewat has never been highly regarded by Wallabies selectors, or by Australia's two most recent Test coaches, Eddie Jones and John Connolly.
Press reports say it is not his attacking capabilities which have turned off the Test selectors, but rather his frail defense.
McKenzie has come to Hewat's defense, believing he did not deserve a snub.
"As a point-scorer, you would think that Peter could add value to a Wallabies squad," McKenzie said. "When we brought him into the Waratahs he immediately stepped up and did make a difference. He could easily be one of those guys who if you put him in better company, he might be a better player."
"But you'll never know, until you put him in better company. I would be very surprised if he could not mix it at that level," he added.
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