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Excitement machine Corey Toole still on rugby sevens radar

By AAP
Corey Toole of the Brumbies watches on during the round one Super Rugby Pacific match between NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies at Allianz Stadium, on February 24, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Fresh from a breakout season that thrust him into Wallabies contention, ACT winger Corey Toole admits he hasn’t closed the door on a return to rugby sevens and an Olympic bid later this year.

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Toole lit up the Super Rugby Pacific competition in 2023 with nine tries in his first full season in the 15-player code, earning Australia A selection in the lead-up to last year’s World Cup.

But the sevens convert has been linked with a switch back to his old format for the Paris Olympics should he not earn Wallabies selection for the home Tests against Wales and Georgia in July.

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The 23-year-old acknowledged he’d had conversations with Rugby Australia about a potential return but wouldn’t detail where he’d left things regarding that move.

“It could be a possibility, I’ve had a couple of chats,” he said.

“Nothing too serious just yet, it’s a long time away, it’s four months away, so we’re just focusing on the season ahead.

“I’m just fully focused on the Brumbies this season, who knows what’s gonna happen at the end of the season.

“I’m just trying to play the best footy I can each week.”

Toole played for Australia at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where he scored two tries and helped the side to a fourth-placed finish.

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Australia sevens coach John Manenti recently stated his desire to have the speedster back should he miss Wallabies selection, declaring he could be one of the world’s best three players if he prioritised that code.

Toole had conversations with Wallabies staff throughout 2023 regarding what they wanted to see from him moving forward and hopes he can break into the line-up under new coach Joe Schmidt.

“Early on, they said I’ve just got to get involved a little bit more in games, be strong defensively and need to play consistent footy,” he said.

“Hopefully, I might get a chance this year if I put my best foot forward.

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“(The Olympics) are just in the back of my head. I’m not thinking about it too much, I don’t dwell on it a lot but I do know it’s around the corner.

“But first and foremost, we’ve got the Super Rugby season, which I’ll be focusing on.”

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J
Jon 3 hours ago
The case for keeping the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby Pacific

I have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.

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