Heaslip leads tributes as Rocky opts to roll

JAMIE HEASLIP last night hailed Rocky Elsom’s short-lived tenure in a Leinster jersey, as the Heineken Cup champions finally waved the white flag yesterday in their bid to retain the Wallaby’s services for another season.

The 26-year old flanker has signed a two-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union and ACT Brumbies after talks aimed at allowing him to continue with Leinster whilst representing the Wallabies came to naught.

“He’s awesome, one of the best I’ve ever played with,” said Lion backrower Heaslip. “Even though he is almost the same age as me, I learned a huge amount from him. It was great to have him for a year and he really bought into the whole Leinster thing. But he wants to play international rugby, and you can’t blame him for that.”

Leinster coach Michael Cheika sung from the same hymn sheet: “Rocky really wanted to stay at Leinster and also represent his country in test match rugby, which is the highest honour for any player. Up until today we had been negotiating with the ARU to secure this scenario but unfortunately the ARU would not allow it and told him that to play for the Wallabies he had to be playing with an Australian franchise.”

Elsom will line out for the Barbarians against the Wallabies in Sydney this weekend but could return to his country’s colours a week later when Robbie Deans’ side takes on Italy.

“I loved my time at the club and feel very fortunate to have been part of a great team and such a successful season,” Elsom said. “My career in the near future is in Australia with the Wallabies, but I can’t say enough how much I’ve appreciated the support of the Leinster public and the team.”

ARU chief executive John O’Neill described Elsom’s decision to return home as “a good news story of massive proportions” and rubbished the figures said to have been involved in luring the player back home: “Those who said we paid a king’s ransom to get him back are wrong.”