Scrap the Giteau Rule, says Toomua

Wallaby playmaker Matt Toomua has shared his thoughts on Australia’s ‘Giteau rule’, saying that he believes it would be to Australia’s benefit if it was discarded. 

According to the ‘Giteau rule’, the Wallabies may select three overseas-based players while the remainder of the squad must remain locally-based. The goal behind is to ensure that Australia’s domestic scene will not suffer from player-drain, but Toomua does not believe that doing away with it would have the expected, adverse consequences. 

“I’m willing to be proven wrong, but I do have an opinion on it and my opinion is let it go. Just cut the cord. The worry is if you allow [all overseas-based players] to come in and let everyone play, that the domestic tournament struggles. Well, we already have struggles at the domestic [level], so at what point do you say open it up,” Toomua said, speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald. 

“The example for me is the A-League. If you’re any good at football, you go overseas. It’s not going to be to that extent for rugby in Australia but, if it is, can you still sustain a domestic competition? The A-League would argue that you can if you promote it the right way or have some private investment, or what not. 

“Maybe we relieve a bit of the cost burden [on Rugby Australia] from the international guys and let them go. It just seems so murky.” 

Toomua believes that it makes sense for the Wallabies to select their best representatives, even if they happen to be plying their trade outside of Australian borders. 

“If we are going to be running this trickle-down economics thing, let’s not restrain the Wallabies in any way, shape or form, because that’s just silly,” he said. “If we need Rory [Arnold], we need Rory. If we need Will [Skelton], we need Will. Samu [Kerevi] – why is he not playing all the time? We can’t just have them for a two-game tour. We have to have these guys. 

“As a player, it’s quite frustrating,” he said. “I signed a contract last year on the basis that the Giteau Law was in play, so you do the depth chart, you look at it and think, ‘I’ll probably be around here’. And then the rules get changed. 

“It’s only a rule until two blokes decide it’s not a rule, so I feel like it’s dying a bit of a slow death at the moment. 

“Let it go, let the costs go, some other young kid is going to shine, be the face of the game, and we’ll still have our international stars playing for Australia, and we’re not crippling ourselves by not having all of them.” 

On a personal level, Toomua, who will become an overseas-based player next season, opened up regarding his current situation. 

“I finished last season with a head knock, that kept me out for a fair while. I came back and I wanted to be part of the [Rebels] leadership group, so that wasn’t a decision made on my part. I was pretty disappointed by that. 

“It was a few blows. I was playing No.12 [with Melbourne], and I’d always expressed my desire to play No.10, then I got put back in 10, but then the Wallabies said they see me as a No.12 and me playing No.10 is not really helping my chances of playing at No.12. 

“Towards the end, I just had to come to the position that I wanted to play rugby and a position that I wanted to play, and if it’s not good enough for the Wallabies, I’m OK with that. I’ll do my best, I’ll do everything I can. But if that’s not enough, I am actually quite proud of what I’ve done at a Wallaby level and the experiences I’ve had. 

“I do really, really like the environment in terms of the coaching set up there. I spoke to Dave Rennie on the phone when he called me to tell me I wasn’t in. I said, ‘Mate, I genuinely wish I was a few years younger, playing a little bit better’. 

“For me, it’s just the natural cycle of being an athlete. You’re good for a bit and, hopefully, you take advantage of that little bit, and then you become not very good for a bit. I don’t think I’m completely out the other side, but I’m setting myself up for that because it does eventually happen. I want to be pragmatic about that.”