This was published 8 years ago
World Cup 2015: Wallabies forward Kane Douglas still keen to play overseas in future
By Daniel Lane
Despite the drama involved in breaking his three-year contract with Irish club Leinster after his debut season was crippled by a back injury and terrible bouts of homesickness, World Cup-bound Wallabies back-rower Kane Douglas says he hasn't ruled out playing overseas again.The 26-year-old, who adds an aggressive X-factor to Michael Cheika's side, was caught in a bitter battle between Australia and Ireland when he wanted to return home after completing the first year of his lucrative deal with the three-time European Cup winners by citing "matters at home".
He was only released by the Dublin-based club in July after they said they had reached a "suitable agreement" that allowed for him to return to Australia, but the lead-up to the announcement created a rugby firestorm.
Uncertain future: Kane Douglas is still keen to play rugby overseas in future.Credit: Getty Images
Douglas, who has signed a three-year deal with the Queensland Reds, said the stress had not had an impact on his desire to play overseas in future.
"As much as I wanted to come home at the end of it, I genuinely wanted to go over at the start," he said.
"That's the great thing about rugby, you can travel overseas and play the game, and while I found I missed home more than I thought I would, I'm not ruling out going back overseas one day."
While he was restricted to only 20 matches because of a back injury, Douglas preferred to draw upon the positives of his time in Ireland, such as the tutelage of Leinster coach Leo Cullen, the distinguished former Irish captain and lock, as well as the impact it had on him and his partner, Jennarly Vieira.
"Well, you learn how awesome Australia is," he replied when asked what living in Ireland had taught him. "I signed a three-year deal, but came home after one, but it was a good experience for me and the missus [Jennarly] to do something different ... getting away was good for our relationship.
"From a rugby point of view, I've played in a different place and experienced a different type of rugby. I've packed down in a few more scrums and with Leo Cullen there it was good for lineout knowledge."
Douglas flew out to America with the Wallabies on Saturday, where they will play a World Cup warm-up match against the United States Eagles at Chicago's Soldier Field.
"A few people have messaged me and they're happy for me," he said of his selection. "But I don't sit back and think, 'yeah, I've done pretty well'.
"I've only played 17 minutes [against the All Blacks, in the Bledisloe decider] and I was blowing out there, but it's good to be back in the mix. I'm confident I'll get there and be 100 per cent when the World Cup comes around."
Days after photos were taken by Fairfax Media of Douglas, who stands 202 centimetres and weighs 119 kilograms, and Will Skelton, 204 centimetres and 130 kilograms, literally fighting tooth and nail to impress at scrummaging training, his older brother and NRL's Gold Coast Titans prop Luke said Kane's aggression didn't surprise him.
"These opportunities don't come along too often, so of course they'll go hard," he said ahead of his match against the St George Illawarra Dragons on Sunday.
"Kane went through a lot to come back to Australia from Ireland and I tell him all the time he needs to keep working hard, bust his backside to get fit and strong because a few good performances will allow for him to reap the rewards."
Luke said his brother would add starch to the Wallabies, despite his limited game time.
"Kane knows what it takes in those big games and he has that aggression and knows how to make an impact, which is something I think the coach likes," he said. "It's good to see him get picked, there was some stiff competition for his spot.
"[His return home] was a win-win situation because his fiancee is pregnant and if he made the World Cup side it was awesome, but if he didn't his time with Jennarly would have been great.
"As it's turned out he now has the chance to get fit and do something special and I can't wait to watch him."
Luke Douglas added Kane, who expects to become a father on New Year's Eve, was genuine about the "family matters" he cited to get out of his deal, saying the death of his mother months after she suffered a stroke during the flight to Europe to watch him play for the Wallabies in 2012 made the bond that ties the family together even tighter.
"When I was living in Sydney [and playing for Cronulla] he lived with me and when I moved to the Gold Coast he moved in with our brother Jake, who plays for Southern Districts, so he likes that family support.
"While he had Jen there I know he was hanging out to get back home."