World Cup door opens for Cummins
This story just popped up. Interesting. Let's hope it all works out
Nick Taylor The West Australian
Nick Cummins' World Cup dream could be reignited if Western Force are successful in bringing him back for the 2015 Super Rugby season.
Cummins had given up on playing for the Wallabies in next year's tournament after signing with Japanese Top League club Coca Cola Red Sparks and has not spoken to coach Ewen McKenzie since the move, but an ARU spokesperson said they would be interested in having talks.
"Since we granted Nick Cummins an early release based on his unique circumstances, we've said that we would be interested in speaking with him if he wants to return and commit to Australia," the spokesperson said.
"The first step in the process is for Nick to indicate that he wants to return to Australian rugby.
"Any player who is registered and available to play from the start of the Super Rugby season is eligible to be considered for selection for the Wallabies for the rest of that calendar year.
"This would apply to Nick Cummins if he was to return to play Super Rugby from the start of the 2015 season."
The Force is unlikely to receive financial help from the ARU, unlike the sweetener they gave the Queensland Reds to secure cross-code player Karmichael Hunt.
They will hold open one of three vacant Super squad spots for the star winger and cult figure known as the Honey Badger while they wait for Red Sparks to make a decision over the loan.
Cummins moved to Japan to earn bigger money to support his family. Two siblings have cystic fibrosis and his father Mark has been diagnosed with incurable cancer.
He already has permission from Red Sparks to play for the invitational Barbarians side against Australia at Twickenham on November 1 that kicks off the Wallabies' five-week spring tour of Europe.
He can make the appearance because the Top League breaks for Japan's two home Tests against the Maori All Blacks and away Tests against Romania and Georgia.
Last year, flanker George Smith received special dispensation to play for Australia in the three Test series against the British and Irish Lions after getting an insurance clearance from his Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath.
He initially signed a short-term deal with the Brumbies but a season-ending injury to David Pocock led to Smith committing for the rest of the regular season which made him eligible for the Wallabies.
