Giteau always welcome: White
New ACT Brumbies coach Jake White will attempt to lure Matt Giteau back to Canberra when he finishes his 18-month stint with French club Toulon.
Giteau will play his last game at Canberra Stadium tonight when the Brumbies take on the Melbourne Rebels in the second last round of the Super Rugby season.
After the Wallabies' World Cup campaign Giteau will join Toulon. But White is convinced the 28-year-old playmaker will be capable of making a Super Rugby return.
And the former South African World Cup-winning coach has thrown the door open for the star back to return to the capital either late in 2013 or for 2014 and beyond.
''I wish him [Giteau] all the best for the next 18 months,'' White told The Canberra Times.
''But the Brumbies will always accept a guy like Matt Giteau. He's been a fantastic Brumby ... If he does want to come back and there's an opportunity, we will be more than willing to accommodate him.''
The new Brumbies coach was disappointed Giteau had already decided to go to France before he was appointed in April.
White who begins his four-year tenure as Brumbies coach next month felt he could have helped to reinvigorate Giteau's career after almost a decade in the spotlight.
Giteau signed his deal with Toulon in February and said taking his career abroad was essential to him keeping fresh.
Unlike most players who decide to play overseas, Giteau will only be a 30-year-old when his contract with Toulon expires.
He is not troubled by ongoing injuries, nor is he considered to be a has-been by his opponents.
The opportunity to reach 100 Tests for the Wallabies could entice him back to Australia and he has hinted at possibly returning for the British and Irish Lions tour in 2013.
But while Giteau is reluctant to speculate beyond his time in France, there is a possibility White could get his man.
''[To come back] I really feel I need to offer the Brumbies something, not just come back here and get easy money and kind of cruise through the season,'' Giteau said.
''If I feel that I'm missing this style of football or Canberra in general and I still feel like I've got something to offer the Brumbies then I'd love to come back at some point,'' Giteau said yesterday.
''But at the moment I'm just focused on this year and my last game at Canberra Stadium.''
The Brumbies will farewell 10 players after they play the Rebels.
Because of the Brumbies' injury toll, just four of the departing squad members will be on the field Giteau, Mitchell Chapman, Patrick Phibbs and Adam Ashley-Cooper.
The others who won't be returning are Mark Chisholm, Salesi Ma'afu, Francis Fainifo, Rocky Elsom, Josh Valentine and Huia Edmonds.
Giteau led the Brumbies to an upset win over the Queensland Reds last weekend, and he has been one of the team's best performers during this season despite the Brumbies winning just three of 14 games.
White said Giteau's determined attitude would be crucial if the 91-Test veteran wanted to make a comeback for the Brumbies.
''I know how hard he has been trying, I know how much it all means to him,'' White said.
''To be fair to him, he's been under the pump internationally with guys like Quade Cooper and James O'Connor coming through.
''The thing about Matt is he enjoys competition and that's why he was considered one of the best players in the world he's got that attitude which brings out the best when he's under pressure.''
The Brumbies are having one of their toughest seasons. But coach Tony Rea was effusive in his praise of Giteau's leadership.
''You've seen a bloke really dig in for the place,'' Rea said. ''He deserves people to recognise what he's done and support it and tomorrow night's the ideal time to do that.''
Meanwhile, the Brumbies are believed to be close to signing Australian under-20s hooker Siliva Siliva to replace Edmonds.
The highly rated Siliva plays with the Western Force and is currently with Australia at the Junior World Championships in Italy.
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