Falcons insist Samo will join

Newcastle are confident that ACT Brumbies Super 12 star Radike Samo will be a Falcons player next season.

The Falcons insist that 28-year-old Samo’s agreement to join them was binding.

But Australian rugby chiefs are exploring ways of keeping him Down Under after he was today named in a 27-man Wallabies squad.

Newcastle announced a week ago that they had recruited Fiji-born Samo on a two-year deal, and Falcons rugby director Rob Andrew has underlined the Zurich Premiership club’s stance.

“Radike’s agreement to join Newcastle Falcons is binding, and at no stage has there been any indication from either the player or his representatives that he does not intend to honour it,” said the former England fly-half.

“We look forward to seeing him at Kingston Park ahead of the upcoming English season, and do not intend to make any further comment on the matter.”

If Samo decides to complete his Newcastle move, then he will do so at the expense of a newly-found Wallabies career because Australian Rugby Union policy is against selecting overseas-based players.

Uncapped second-row forward Samo was named in Fiji’s latest national squad last weekend, but under the terms of his Super 12 contract, Australia have first refusal on him and he has pledged his international future to the Wallabies.

Samo confirmed today that he has signed a letter of intent with Newcastle, but was uncertain about its legal implications.

“We are in conversations with his management team about retaining his services beyond this year,” said the ARU’s high performance manager Brett Robinson.

Samo’s initial ARU offer did not remotely match Falcons’ financial package, yet Wallabies coach Eddie Jones hopes that the lure of an Australian Test jersey will prove irresistible.

“We are in continuing discussions to try and find out precisely where his contract is,” said Jones.

“If he is not legally bound to Newcastle, then we will continue negotiations to try and get him signed up in Australia.

“We want him to play for Australia. He has indicated he wants to play for the Wallabies. We don’t have a full understanding – we are trying to find out.

“The lure of the pound and the various sorts of tax schemes they have in place in England always makes it hard to keep players.

“That is the problem we face all the time. To match the market value of the players in Europe is very difficult. Guys don’t make decisions just on finance - it depends on the individual.”

Samo helped the Brumbies to the Super 12 title with victory over Canterbury Crusaders in Canberra last weekend, and could make his Test debut against Scotland in Melbourne on June 13.

Samo was one of five Brumbies named in a Wallabies squad for the first time, recognition that once again they were far and away the best Australian Super 12 franchise.

Mark Gerrard, who scored a hat-trick in the Super 12 final, won his first call-up, along with prop Nic Henderson and Samo’s second row partner at the Brumbies, Mark Chisholm.

Clyde Rathbone, the former South Africa Under-21 captain, was also included in Jones’ squad, and will be considered for both wing and outside centre.

“We have 22 players who were involved in the Rugby World Cup, and five new guys who will add talent and enthusiasm to the squad,” said Jones.

“We’ve picked the squad on form, from performances during the entire Super 12, but Test match rugby is another level of intensity altogether.”

Australia play two Tests against Scotland next month, followed by a June 26 World Cup final rematch against England in Brisbane before embarking on their Tri-Nations campaign.