Wallaby in waiting Tom Wright has declared his desire to re-sign with Australian rugby despite contract talks being put on hold, adamant he wants to help the sport rebuild and grow for the future.
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The Canberra Times can reveal Wright was on the verge of signing an ACT Brumbies contract extension before coronavirus shutdown the Super Rugby competition in March.
He has since been named in a Wallabies players of national interest squad after a sparkling start to the season, but there is now a moratorium on contract talks until Rugby Australia finalises a competition plan for the future. That has left Wright and several off-contract players in limbo as they wait to find out what Super Rugby will look like next year and beyond and if Rugby Australia can secure a broadcast deal.
NRL convert Wright switched to rugby union last year to pursue his Wallabies ambitions and says he wants to commit to the code to chase his international goals. Sources say Rugby Australia and the Brumbies have made Wright a "top priority" re-signing when negotiations can begin again.
"Everything's on hold at the moment," Wright said. "It is in my mind, but it's not something I can control. I was reasonably close [before coronavirus] ... but no one could have imagined this would happen.
"I want to stay down here in Canberra. Football can be cut-throat, especially now. I'd love to be a part of getting rugby back on its feet again in the next few years.
"I've got aspirations to do bigger and better things when football gets back on its feet on July 4. Hopefully one day I can earn a gold jersey one day, but it's baby steps getting to that. It was exciting to get that [Wallabies call], that was at the top of the wish list.
"I'm just so happy to be back [at training]. There was a lot of dirt thrown around about the competition and all the rest, but as players and the staff, we understand how happy we are to be back."
Wright will be hoping to pick up where he left off in the final game before the coronavirus pause after scoring four tries in four games to force his way on to new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie's selection radar.
He was one of 12 Brumbies rewarded for the strong start to the year, but they will have to start with Australia's top players to use the domestic format as a Wallabies selection trial over the next 12 weeks.
The headache for Brumbies coach Dan McKellar is how does he fit three into two spots as Wright prepares to resume his battle with Andy Muirhead and Solomone Kata for wing selection. The Brumbies will start their new domestic season with a clash against the Melbourne Rebels in Canberra on July 4, but the bid to win a spot in the starting XV has already begun.
The first challenge for Wright could be against a fellow former rugby league player, Marika Koroibete, who has established himself as one of Australia's premier speedsters in recent seasons.
"Winning games is how teams get picked [for the Wallabies] ... not many players come out of teams that aren't playing well. It comes off the back of everyone playing well," Wright said.
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"Coming up against the Rebels [in the first game] and the John Eales Medal winner Marika Koroibete, there's no better person to come up against. There's the standard [straight away], I'm looking forward to it. We'll all push each other [at the Brumbies] and keep each other accountable."
The Brumbies will be able to invite up to 1500 fans to their first game after the ACT government eased large-gathering restrictions on Friday.
The crowd will be made up of members and corporate backers, the the club to open a ballet process in the coming days.
It is hoped the attendees will be treated to a faster-style of rugby than the stop-start product from recent years, which has been hampered by slow scrum resets and time wasting.
New kicking incentives will give wingers something extra to think about while the Brumbies hope the fast pace will suit the attacking flair of players like Wright.
"Something we pride ourselves on is being able to take teams to the limit," Wright said.
"I think it will be exciting. [Some of the changes] were introduced in the NRC last year, we've dabbled a bit and as a back three we've spoken about being more aware and making sure we don't invite teams into the game.
"It's going to be really exciting and a challenge for all of the Super teams."
SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND 1
July 4: ACT Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm