Ben Mowen to quit Wallabies

[Peat]

Thing is, while rugby is a short career, it's still perfectly possible to have a second long and lucrative career after it...

 

[Big Ewis]

Normal people work until they are 65, the average rugby player is able to play rugby until he is what, 33 or 34? I am not sure of the pension situation for rugby players either but I can't imagine it is that great. The guy needs to maximize his earning potential while he is still young as he is getting to that age where a rugby career can end in a heart beat.

He is looking after his family by moving to France due to the following:

1. He will be playing less games
2. He will be travelling less
3. He will be earning more money

Sounds like a good deal to me.

mmmmyeah...I guess you're right. In part. But still.
Anyways rabble rabble fk the Top 14 rabble rabble !!!

 

[McTallshort]

You cannot say he has not fulfilled his commercial potential..

 

[gaston le gaff]

Ben Mowen will probably not sign for Toulon!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

Ben Mowen will probably not sign for Toulon!!!!!!!!!!!

Probably not but he will be signed by one of the bigger clubs in France.

 

[Aedaphon]

As if these players *needed* money. What, the Wallabies and Brumbies combined only get him enough to buy macaroni and cheese and processed sausages and barely afford an internet connection and utilities in a humble 1 bedroom flat in a crappy neighborhood ??...

I mean it doesn't make him a cash-whore or anything but it's like the guy was some poor amateur athlete looking for the big time - he's the fkn Wallaby captain. What, he doesn't like his current 4-car rotation, he prefers a 7-car rotation, one car for each day ? He wants to buy his wife massive diamonds in stead of plain gold ?

Call those moves what you want, legit, legion, and rational, whatever you like, I'm not stopping anyone. But if I were the Wallaby coach right now or possibly a teammate I'd have to feel just a little bit disgruntled and possibly betrayed. Yes it's business, yes I sounds naive and all that - but we're human beings, not robots. Business is there, but there are also values godamnit. And when the conditions are pretty good there's no need to leave. Play for your fkn country at least the remaining time for 2015 when the Wallabies will need all they can get for the first time threatened not to leave the pool stages.

You are kidding right...? Because it's pretty obvious that the life of a professional athlete really isn't that simple.

And given that he did not get capped by the Wallabies until last year, it's a little more understandable. A lot of other players were on so called "Wallabies" salaries for most of their career, Mowen as captain still wouldn't have been as paid as much as the average Wallaby at the Brumbies. Sure, it's not the best indicator for the national side, but it's kind of hard not to sympathise with a man who was away from his family 7 months out of the year.

 

[Tony Manx]

Ben Mowen will probably not sign for Toulon!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the clue is there in who made that post..............I would put a few bob on Montpellier if I were a betting man!!

 

[jessta]

Huge loss for wallabies! Absolutely outrageous treatment by aru, they only give players who have represented aus for 2 years an aru top up, however an exception was made for israel falou... ben mowen is the bloody current captain, he is as valuable to the team as falou if not more. This is double standards being showen to full extent. Although i personally also do condenm mowen, the man could squeeze out one more season next year, get his top up then play his final year for aus in worldcup, he would only be 31- 32 at that point and then could play the remainder of his years abroad for that retirement cash! Lack of commitment and motivation showen.

My fully fit wallabies backrow would include him being:
6. Mowen
7. Pocock
8. Higginbotham

Although I would also love to see the dual openside combo of:
6. Pocock
7. Hooper
8. Higginbotham

palu is way past his best

 

[ratsapprentice]

Mowen would, in all likelihood have been consigned to the bench if not out of the 23 when Higginbotham and Pocock return from injury.
He was only named captain because Horwill and Genia were playing like **** and needed pressure and automatic starting taken off them.

He has the foresight to see that, and wants some extra cash... fair enough.

 

[McTallshort]

Its all the fault of the PRL.

 

[gaston le gaff]

I think the clue is there in who made that post..............I would put a few bob on Montpellier if I were a betting man!!

Good to see some of you are on the ball well spotted Tony cant say any more at the moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!