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Today at 10:51 AM
by Beth Newman
Former Rebels lock Luke Jones is set to return to Melbourne in 2019 and could play for the Wallabies again by the end of the year.
French media are reporting the 27-year-old has secured a release from his contract with French club Bordeaux that will see him back in Australia for the start of the Super Rugby season next year.
Jones has been playing with Bordeaux since the end of 2016 and had re-signed with the team through to the end of 2020, but has decided to return home and have a crack at making the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad.
But, like Matt Toomua, the moment Jones signs a new deal with the Rebels he becomes immediately eligible for the Wallabies.
While it is unlikely he will be called on during the Rugby Championship, a return to the Wallabies ranks on the Spring Tour is very much on the cards.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is believed to have been involved in talks for Jones to return to Australian rugby.
The versatile lock/backrower played six seasons with the Rebels and one with the Force before moving to France, racking up 74 Super Rugby matches and three Wallabies Tests in that time.
He was overlooked by Cheika for the 2015 Rugby World Cup but had been open about his desire to push for a World Cup berth if the opportunity came up.
Jones had hinted at a move back to Australia when he was back in Sydney last year, playing for the Alan Jones' Barbarians against the Wallabies.
“I was put under some serious pressure to stay (in Bordeaux) because they’re happy with my playing and I’m enjoying my time there," he said at the time.
"They were pretty keen to wrap it up pretty quickly.
“If Australia came knocking, I think Bordeaux would understand if I wanted to go back.”
Cheika also said at the time that he would welcome Jones back into Super Rugby with open arms.
“We never wanted him to leave initially,” he said.
“I was surprised that Bordeaux would be releasing him to come back to play in this game.
“It'd be good to see him back here and I'd love to see him back here playing Super Rugby.”
Bordeaux president Laurent Marti wouldn't officially confirm the news in France but did air his frustrations about Australians leaving their contracts early or asking for releases.
Sekope Kepu left his Bordeaux deal after less than one season into a three-year deal back in 2016 and Adam Ashley-Cooper was in a tug of war with the French team during that 2016 Rugby Championship as well after Bordeaux was forced to release him for Test matches.
The Rebels have been contacted for comment.
http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/09...-jones-returns
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
He's not really a lock, though. He's shorter and lighter than RHP, so you've got to be thinking he'll be a 6 for either the Rebels or Wallabies. He'll have to fill the Fardy-shaped hole which is exposed when then the Wallabies play Hooper & Pocock at 7 & 8.
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon
Anyone else think the salary cap won’t be applied this year either? FFS
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
Heard on the radio this week that the Vic Government is going all out to make Melbun the basketball capital of Australia, with millions of taxpayer dollars being ploughed into the sport there. They mustn’t have a Clyne or a North to enable them to get someone else to pay for them to get to the top.
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
Do we have to wait for the annual report to see if Bordeaux are going to be compensated? They weren't happy when the RA changed the eligibility criteria after signing AAC. That's why his contract wasn't renewed.
'I may be a Senator but I am not stupid'
https://omny.fm/shows/the-alan-jones-breakfast-show/cameron-clyne
Link to Senate Report http://www.aph.gov.au/senate_ca
https://www.change.org/p/rugby-australia-petition-for-cameron-clyne-to-resign-as-chairman-of-the-rugby-australia-board
Who F#$King Cares! World Series Rugby is where its at. Although I am starting to wonder how long before Ross realises that he's going nowhere over there and decides to come back home for more exposure.
'I may be a Senator but I am not stupid'
https://omny.fm/shows/the-alan-jones-breakfast-show/cameron-clyne
Link to Senate Report http://www.aph.gov.au/senate_ca
https://www.change.org/p/rugby-australia-petition-for-cameron-clyne-to-resign-as-chairman-of-the-rugby-australia-board
Hi @SubbiesBattler,
Further to your tweet attaching a screenshot of my above post, I’m just trying to correct the record on the size of the Rebels squad and was wondering if you could help me.
The website for the Melbourne Rebels has 49 player profiles on its “Players” page. Seven of the profiles are greyed out so I assume they’ve left the squad over the season. If you add in Luke Jones, that makes 43 players in the Rebels’ squad for 2018. https://melbournerebels.com/team/players/
That is three less than the 46 players listed on The Roar website at the beginning of the season (compared to 39 Brumbies, 34 Reds, 38 Waratahs) https://www.theroar.com.au/rugby-uni...r-rugby-teams/
The Collective Bargaining Agreement between RUPA and RA effective for the period 2018 to 2020 caps the number of players per SuperRugby franchise at 40. http://www.rugbyaustralia.com.au/Med...AGREEMENT.aspx
Could you help me join the dots Mr Subbies Battler? Did the Rebels get special dispensation from the ARU to carry more than 40 players in their squad for the 2018 season? What is the picture looking like for 2019 and 2020?
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
'I may be a Senator but I am not stupid'
https://omny.fm/shows/the-alan-jones-breakfast-show/cameron-clyne
Link to Senate Report http://www.aph.gov.au/senate_ca
https://www.change.org/p/rugby-australia-petition-for-cameron-clyne-to-resign-as-chairman-of-the-rugby-australia-board
Both.
Someone who reads this site chose to take a screenshot of my post and put it on Twitter with a comment that I was spreading hate and lies and being unprofessional. Don’t know the pseudonym they use on here (assuming they are registered at all) but the one they use on Twitter is @SubbiesBattler.
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby