Australian international winger Digby Ioane might stick with Australian Rugby Union
Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has received a major boost as Australian star international winger, Digby Ioane, is reported to be extending his stay in Australia. The announcement regarding Ioane’s
extension of stay at the Australian Super Rugby Franchise and 2011 Super Rugby Champion, Queensland Reds, was made on Thursday, November 10.
Ioane was part of the Reds outfit which cruised their way to the title of the 2011 South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia Rugby (SANZAR) Super Rugby title. The Super Rugby tournament is the
premier tournament of the Southern Hemisphere in which 15 teams from participating nations compete for the Super Rugby title.
Earlier, Ioane was linked with a possible move to the Japanese Football Rugby Union outfit. Besides Ioane, players like South African international Fourie du Preez and All Blacks international
Ma'a Nonu, have joined the big money spending Rugby Union clubs in the Far East.
Queensland Reds, 2011 Super Rugby title winning head coach, Ewen McKenzie, has hinted that Ioane will not be moving to Japan. He made these comments while talking to AAP.
In replying to a question regarding, Ioane, McKenzie replied, “I'm not stressing about it, it’s been trickling along for some time but I've been quietly confident the whole time so it's not
something I'm worried about. I'm sure he and his management team will sort it out eventually.”
McKenzie has praised Ioane’s skills and abilities and praised his performance for Wallabies during the 2011 Rugby World Cup tournament. He added that his inclusion strengthens the Australian
squad overall. He said, “It's a good sign. The longer there's no news the better it is because in the end it lines up better with our season rather than theirs.”
The 26 year old Ioane made his international debut for Australia against the Wales at Brisbane on June 2, 2007. He so far has played 20 games for Australia, where he has started on all occasions
and scored 45 points coming from his nine impressive tries.
Wellington born Ioane started his professional Rugby Union career with Australia Super Rugby Franchise, Western Force in 2006. He made 23 appearances for Force during his two seasons stay at
the club. He joined Reds in 2008.
Earlier, McKenzie turned down his departure from the role of the Reds head coach. He denounced the reports made in the certain media segments regarding his separation from his current role.
He confirmed that he has no intension of leaving Reds for the Wallabies head coach job.
McKenzie, following his impressive run in the last couple of the seasons, was hinted as the replacement of the New Zealand born Wallabies head coach, Robbie Deans, whose contract is set to
expire in 2013.
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