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Rugby Union

Aussie flanker Elsom to join Leinster

26/06/2008

Australia flanker Rocky Elsom is to join Irish club Leinster in September, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has announced.

Elsom, 25, has been granted an early release from his central contract with the ARU, which was due to expire at the end of December, in order to link-up with the European provincial side after the Tri-Nations tournament is over.

The ARU has described the agreement to release the 33-cap international as being "on compassionate grounds", although no more details will be released according to chief executive John O'Neill.

"It would be inappropriate for us to comment further on the conversations we have had with Rocky," he said.

"He took us into his confidence and this remains a confidential matter between Rocky and the ARU.

"What we can say is that we have offered Rocky valuable advice moving forward.

"We also factored into the equation that not giving him this assistance, in the form of an early release, meant we could have lost him to Australian rugby permanently.

"As it stands now, we hope to have Rocky back in Australia by the middle of next year."

The ARU have stressed the agreement reached with Elsom is not a sabbatical, similar to the deal offered by New Zealand to star man Dan Carter, meaning the Australian will no longer be eligible to play for his country.

"Players based overseas are ineligible for Wallabies selection," explained O'Neill.

"There is no intention of relaxing that stance."