Elsom tipped to sign ARU contract

ROCKY ELSOM will return to Australia from Ireland after agreeing to terms with the Australian Rugby Union, according to a report in today’s The Australian.

The Wallaby flanker, described by Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll as the best player he had ever been on a field with, will turn out for the Barbarians against the Wallabies in Sydney on June 6. There has been conjecture whether Elsom would return to Australia or remain with Leinster, but a source said he had agreed to return home.

As soon as Elsom signs an ARU contract that will take him through to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, he will be eligible for inclusion in the Wallabies squad for the inbound internationals against Italy and France.

While the co-signer on Elsom’s ARU contract is yet to be determined, the ACT Brumbies have indicated they are interested in him along with the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs.

“You always have an interest in world 15 players and Rocky is in that category,” ACT Brumbies chief Andrew Fagan said.

Elsom had signalled a return to Queensland, where he was schooled, but he is believed to be having second thoughts about the Reds, who finished in the bottom three on the Super rugby table for a sixth year in a row.

The ARU is also set to approach Leinster coach Michael Cheika to coach the Super rugby expansion team to be located on the Gold Coast or Melbourne in 2011.