Saracens lock Will Skelton may still feature for the Wallabies at this years Rugby World Cup in Japan.
The massive 119kg second-row has just signed a new two-year deal to remain at the London side and is at this moment ineligible to play for his country as he only has 18 caps to his name.
Due to that he cannot play abroad and for the country as he does not have the minimum of 60 caps required but there is still hope.
The 27-year-old could play for the green and gold if he signs a contract with a Super Rugby franchise for when his Saracens deal runs out meaning his future commitments would be in Australia and making him eligible for his country.
Saracens head coach Mark McCall has admitted that Skelton has a desire to feature at the World Cup and although he would love the lock to remain at the club, he wants what’s best for the player.
“Will has spoken to me about it. He is keen to play in the World Cup, but he is also keen to play for Saracens, which is quite complex. There hasn’t been much contact from Australia, but I think there will be and we want our players to play in the World Cup. For that to happen he probably has to sign longer term there, which is not what we want but if that is what Will decides, that is what he decides,” he said.
Only recently Exeter scrum-half Nic White had the same problem as Skelton, however he signed for an Australian Super Rugby side allowing him the chance to compete for a place on the plane for Japan.
Skelton has been in incredible form this season since shedding over three-stone in weight and has forced McCall to shift star lock Maro Itoje to the back-row to accommodate both players.
The English lock is happy that his teammate is in such fine form but admits if he does play in the World Cup, he will receive the same treatment as any other opponent.
“He is in great form, he is truly in great form. But if he is playing for the Wallabies, unfortunately he will have to get chopped down like the rest of them,” Itoje said.
For now, Skelton is at Saracens for the foreseeable future but with the form he’s in at the moment Australia will want him in Japan and what Super Rugby side wouldn’t want him in their squad.
