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.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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.
The pressure was already on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League raised further questions about his future. Arsenal remain perfect in this season’s competition and three points clear at the top of the standings after a 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were held 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao. The clash between Madrid and City was the standout game of the round amid reports this week that Alonso had lost control of the locker room. Speculation over his position is likely to intensify after the latest
The Olympic flame for the Milan Cortina Winter Games landed in Rome on Thursday following a handover in Greece. The flame was carried in a small lantern aboard an ITA Airways flight between the Greek and Italian capitals. Tennis player Jasmine Paolini — an Olympic gold medalist — and local organizing committee president Giovanni Malago carried the flame off the plane. “I feel honored. It’s an incredible emotion,” Paolini said in brief remarks before the lantern was driven away toward the presidential palace. A 63-day torch relay covering 12,000km is to start in Rome today and wind its way through all 110 Italian provinces
The Kashima Antlers won a record-extending ninth Japanese title on the final day of the J. League season yesterday, holding their nerve to beat the Yokohama F. Marinos 2-1. Watched by Brazilian legend and former player Zico, the Antlers went into the game at their packed home stadium with a one-point lead over Kashiwa Reysol in the table. A goal in either half from Brazilian striker Leo Ceara put the Antlers in control, but Yokohama struck in the first of five minutes of second-half injury time to set up a nail-biting finale, with Reysol winning their game 1-0. The Antlers saw out the
Tony Jefferson intercepted a Jalen Hurts pass in overtime to give the Los Angeles Chargers a 22-19 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in an NFL thriller between playoff contenders. Justin Herbert, playing a week after surgery on his broken left (non-throwing) hand, withstood a career-high seven sacks to throw for 139 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers. Cameron Dicker kicked five field goals, including the 54-yard game winner in overtime. The Chargers defenders forced Hurts to throw four interceptions and surrender a fumble for a career-worst five turnovers as the Eagles fell to 8-5 with a third
RSS