Reds row as Elsom ‘likely’ to join Brumbies

LEINSTER’s Rocky Elsom admits he is ‘likely’ to sign for the ACT Brumbies after rejecting offers from the Queensland Reds due to a ‘difference of opinion over the direction of the club.’

The Reds had been favourites to recruit Elsom on his return from his eight-month stint in Dublin, with the 40-Test blindside flanker insisting he would talk to no other province as long as the Queensland deal proceeded smoothly.

But Elsom revealed: “We had a difference of opinion over the direction of the club and ultimately had I gone there that would have been divisive. I wouldn’t have been able to go to the club without trying to make it the way I wanted it and in the end I just knew it wouldn’t be a good fit.”

Asked about the likelihood of his signing with the Brumbies, Elsom told Sydney radio station 2KY yesterday: “I think that is pretty likely. I’ve obviously got to sign and there’s still a couple of things to be worked out but it looks like that way.”

Brumbies coach Andy Friend expects an answer from Elsom “within days”.

Elsom is poised to become one of Australian rugby’s richest earners, with a pay packet of up to $900,000 (€516,000) a season if he commits to a new deal to return to Australia. Should he join the likes of Matt Giteau, George Smith, Stirling Mortlock, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Josh Valentine and quite possibly teenage prodigy James O’Connor, the Brumbies have at their disposal the nucleus of a team quite capable of challenging the new Super 14 champion, the Bulls.

Meanwhile former Munster player Brian Carney is to make a shock return to Super League after agreeing terms with Warrington.

Carney, who will turn 33 next month, has not played league since winning the last of his 14 Great Britain caps in the 2006 Tri-Nations series in Australia and New Zealand.

He has spent the last two years with Munster but is to link up with the Wolves when his contract with the IRFU officially expires at the end of the month.

Carney will be eligible to play for Warrington in their Challenge Cup semi-final against Wigan on August 8 because his signing was registered before the deadline.