Rocky Elsom to join Toulon – Australian Rugby Union
Mourad Boudjellal is looking forward to add more big names to Toulon. The Owner of Toulon signed Jonny Wilkinson on a two year contract this week. Boudjellal revealed that the club is in contact with few big names in the world of rugby. Two names that are
doubted to join Toulon are Andrew Sheridan (Sale Shark) and Shane Williams (Wales). But one name that will surely be a part of Toulon is Australian captain and superstar Rocky Elsom. Rocky helped Leinster in winning Heineken Cup 2009. He is expected to replace
George Smith, his former Wallaby colleague. George Smith will be joining Sanyo Wild Knights, a Japanese club.
Rocky Elsom is an Australian flanker and has played more than fifty times for Australian Rugby Union. He has earned over eighty Super rugby caps with Waratahs and Brumbies and 22 caps for Leinster. Elsom has been titled as the world’s best blindside flanker
by many credible labels and critics.
Rocky Elsom, widely famous as Big Rock and Rocko, has earned a reputation of producing results in critical situations. Elsom’s athletic ability and physical dominance in opponent’s defense has made him the most feared entity on field. Elsom made his debut
for Australia against Samoa in 2005. He later went to Ireland but was re-signed by Australian Rugby Union in 2005. He had been representing Australia since the Under-16 level, until he was offered by NRL for Bulldogs. The blindside flanker then returned to
Rugby Union in 2003, when he joined Waratahs for Super 12. He was named as the most valuable Australian flanker in 2007. He scored a hat-trick of tries in his world cup debut against Japan and made a record of the fastest ever hat-trick in Rugby. His most
memorable try was against world champions South Africa in 2007, where he played as Number Eight for the first time. In 2008 Elsom picked up three ‘Man of the Match’ awards for Leinster in Heineken Cup and eleven ‘Man of the Match’ awards in Magners League.
He was awarded as Magners League Player of the year 2008.
The skipper for Wallabies is facing a fitness issue before the start of Super Rugby season. He is suffering from a hamstring problem. Andy friend, Brumbies coach hopes that Rocky will avoid the surgery and the rest period will be enough for him to recover.
Rocky recently spoke of avoiding the surgery and being available in this tiring World Cup year. Andy Friend has offered an advice to the flanker and believes in his abilities to lead Wallabies through the world cup. Friend infirmed, “I know he's reluctant
to have surgery, as are we, because that would put him out for some time.”
Angus Bathgate, doctor for Elsom has been constantly looking after the flanker. Friend said, “Our doctor Angus Bathgate has been having discussions with him. It's really a time thing, just to see how this little rest period (works) for him, what that does
to his hamstring and whether that will be enough for him.”
With Australian coach Robbie Deans constantly keeping an eye on his injury, Elsom will not return to Brumbies for training until 2010. On the other hand, Toulon is chasing Rocky Elsom to join the club and be a part of this star-studded team. Boudjellal is
determined to get Rocky Elsom on his side and has been hinting about it to media. 'We are in contact with some of the biggest names on earth. Some will come,’ said the Toulon owner. After the addition of Jonny Wilkinson to the club this will be the second
biggest move by the club. Boudjellal commented about Wilkinson’s hiring, “Jonny is more a man of Toulon than anybody else.”
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