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Former Wallabies flanker Liam Gill departs French club Lyon
Former Wallabies flanker Liam Gill has left Top 14 side Lyon after three seasons with the club.
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An announcement was made by the French team on Friday, leaving the 15-test Australian star without a club following the cancellation of the Top 14 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Gill played 60 times for Lyon since arriving from Toulon in 2017, scoring 15 tries in the process.
“Liam is one of the best players I have ever seen,” said Lyon’s assistant coach Kendrick Lynn in a statement.
“No matter the week, it didn’t matter if he was a little injured or that he was not in his best form, he was going to give everything, come out bloodied and exhausted.”
Gill’s future remains up in the air, although previous reports have indicated there being an interest on the flanker’s part in a return to Australian rugby.
According to a rugby.com.au report from two years ago, Gill’s management reached out to Australian Super Rugby clubs in 2018 with the aim of playing in the 2019 campaign.
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Money was stated as the prohibitive factor that prevented the move from coming to fruition, with the ex-Reds loose forward reportedly earning in excess of A$500,000 per year in France.
However, with Wallabies great David Pocock now off Rugby Australia’s books, a move back to his homeland could well be on the cards for Gill, although the COVID-19 outbreak has hardly bolstered the organisation’s coffers.
Should he return to Queensland, Gill would have stern competition for a starting role in his preferred position of openside flanker thanks to the development of Reds captain and one-test Wallaby Liam Wright.
The Reds have a number of promising youngsters in their loose forwards department, such as former Australian U20 stars Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight, meaning Gill would have his work cut out for him if he returns to Suncorp Stadium.
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At the age of 27, though, there is still plenty of time for Gill to make an impact and add to the 15 caps he earned for the Wallabies between 2012 and 2013.
Gill, who became the youngest ever player to compete at a Junior World Championship in 2010 at the age of just 17, left Australia in 2016 after three seasons in the international wilderness to link up with Toulon.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments