‘It hurt me more than anything’: Kerevi sets the record straight after spring tour fiasco

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‘It hurt me more than anything’: Kerevi sets the record straight after spring tour fiasco

By Tom Decent

The thought of being portrayed as a money-hungry rugby player who turned his back on international honours last year for the Wallabies cuts Samu Kerevi deep.

“I think I took it harder than Quade,” Kerevi says. “He helped me through it.”

In October, Kerevi, arguably Australia’s most dangerous player in the Rugby Championship, opted against travelling with the Wallabies for their European end-of-year tour. Two fellow Japan-based players, Quade Cooper and Sean McMahon, made the same decision, having already been selected.

Then came a statement from Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos.

“From our side, it’s hugely disappointing,” Marinos told the Herald. “It’s disappointing for the fact that we’ve backed these players, in terms of giving them another opportunity.”

A quick refresher: Kerevi was released – through goodwill – from his Japanese club, Suntory, his only employer, to play sevens for Australia at the Tokyo Olympics in his off-season.

Samu Kerevi had a sublime 2021 international season for the Wallabies.

Samu Kerevi had a sublime 2021 international season for the Wallabies. Credit:Andrew Phan/Wallabies Media

An unexpected opportunity to link up with the Wallabies afterwards presented itself. Suntory gave their blessing, which Kerevi was extremely thankful for.

However, as the Rugby Championship progressed – and the Wallabies kept on winning – the club versus country debate kicked off. Kerevi, Cooper and McMahon indicated to Wallabies management that they may not head north with the group, despite a World Rugby window allowing players to represent their country.

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This all came after Kerevi picked up an ankle injury against Argentina.

The trio were respectful and cognisant of the clubs who pay their lucrative salaries. All three were included in the squad before pulling of from the three-Test tour.

Kerevi chose Instagram as his platform to pour his heart out.

“I’ve felt angry, sad, confused, betrayed but mostly heartbroken,” Kerevi wrote.

Eight months on and Kerevi is back in Australia. Next month, he’s the unbackable favourite to wear the Wallabies No.12 jersey against England.

The sour taste left in everyone’s mouth meant a Wallabies reunion in 2022 was not a given.

The softly spoken rugby star is in a talkative mood, on the eve of a Wallabies squad announcement on Sunday morning. He’s happy to tell his side of the story.

“I’m not here to blame anyone, but we did let [people] know early that we possibly wouldn’t be able to go,” Kerevi says. “We didn’t have to be there. We wanted to be part of that team and contribute in a positive way, but then when that stuff came out, it hurt me more than anything.

“For our clubs to let us go that long on our holidays was really special.”

Kerevi insists there was “definitely not” any pressure from Suntory to pack his bags and return.

“My club was very supportive,” Kerevi said. “I had to make a decision for what was best for the club in terms of where I sat. They didn’t need to let us go at all. It’s a great honour to play for your country but, at the end of the day, they’re my employers.

“I didn’t even get called into the Wallabies squad [originally]; I was called into the sevens. I had long chats with Walshy [sevens coach Tim Walsh] to come back. I had no conversation with the Wallabies prior to joining the [Bledisloe Cup] camp in Perth. That was a late thing for Suntory, too. They only knew about sevens.

“They told me to be careful and look after my body as much as I can. They pay my wages. We can’t take a club for granted and [accept] their niceness and be like, ‘Oh yeah, we’ll just keep going’.”

But the assertion that Kerevi was abandoning the Wallabies, a team he grew up dreaming of playing for as a youngster in Fiji, stung badly.

“The perception of thinking we don’t want to play for our country, we’re just thinking about money; at the end of the day, man, they’re my employer,” he said. “Suntory had decided to contract me for that amount of money when Australia didn’t.

Wallabies star Samu Kerevi against Argentina in last year’s Rugby Championship.

Wallabies star Samu Kerevi against Argentina in last year’s Rugby Championship.Credit:Getty

“I was as disappointed about how everything came out. I didn’t think that was the right way to do things. People have to look out for their own backs, and I was more worried about that.

“If you were doing extra time for another company, would your work be happy for you to keep taking advantage of them? A lot of times the fans don’t see that. At the end of the day, it’s our job. It was disappointing, but I definitely got over it and moved on from that.”

Kerevi, Cooper and Marika Koroibete will be Dave Rennie’s three overseas picks when he announces his 35-man Wallabies squad for next month’s three-Test series against England.

The significance of being back in the Wallabies set-up is not something Kerevi takes for granted.

Kerevi during his Wallabies debut against England in 2016.

Kerevi during his Wallabies debut against England in 2016. Credit:David Rogers

The first of his 38 Tests came against England in Brisbane in 2016 in a series Australia lost 3-0 after a coaching masterclass from Eddie Jones.

“I’m definitely honoured; it’s a big deal to be selected,” Kerevi says. “Unfortunately, we lost that series and it’s been in the back of my mind when I heard about England coming back Down Under.”

Rennie has admitted there will be few surprises in his squad. There will be a sprinkling of debutants, with Dave Porecki and Jed Holloway from the Waratahs among those likely to join the national set-up.

Kerevi wanted to play club rugby on Saturday with his local Brisbane club team, GPS, but Wallabies staff said he’d be better off getting some rest before joining Wallabies camp on Thursday on the Sunshine Coast.

The 28-year-old says he is loving being back in Australia but is torn about what he should do next year: re-sign with Suntory – therefore playing abroad in a World Cup year – or return home in 2023 and guarantee selection in the Wallabies.

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“It’s a real difficult one,” Kerevi says. “With the World Cup around the corner, you definitely want to be in the chats and the selection process for that. Obviously, they’re only selecting three guys outside of Australia. It will be very difficult to make that squad.

“I’m still pretty keen to play in Japan. I guess it is good for the body and for longevity but, at the same time, I want to compete at the highest level.

“I’ve been blessed enough to be picked from overseas at the moment. That’s ticking that box, but a World Cup is a whole new ball game in terms of selections.

“It’s something I’ve got to look at in the next month or so.”

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