ACT Brumbies back Clyde Rathbone said on Tuesday he planned to stay and play in Australia amid interest from newly appointed Springboks coach Jake White to get him back to South Africa.
Rathbone (22) captained South Africa’s victorious under-21 World Cup team two years ago when it was coached by White.
Rathbone is in the final season of a two-year contract with the Australian Rugby Union signed after the 2002 season when he had made his Super 12 debut for South Africa’s Coastal Sharks.
He missed all of last season due to injury and made an impressive Brumbies Super 12 debut against Fijian superstar Rupeni Caucaunibuca last Saturday in Canberra.
Rathbone will play on the wing for the Brumbies against the Cats in Canberra on Friday — his first game against a South African team.
South African media reports say White is keen to reunite with Rathbone, and the youngster said he wasn’t surprised by the new Springbok coach’s interest.
”I had a good relationship with Jake when we worked together in the 2002 World Cup and I felt there was a chance that it might happen, but to be honest my goals are to play here and stay here, so it’s all speculation,” Rathbone said on Tuesday.
Rathbone said he had already dealt with the same issues when he made his decision to come to Australia and his stance hadn’t ”changed a bit”.
He revealed White had hinted at his intentions on a recent visit to Australia before landing the Springbok job.
”Jake came out here and actually spent a bit of time with the Brumbies a few months ago and he mentioned that if he got the job he might try and get me back there.
”I sort of just laughed it off, it didn’t surprise me completely.” — Sapa-AFP