Kangaroo star contemplates switch to rugby union

Wednesday 16 December 2009
Published By: Ben Welch
International Rugby > Australia

Rugby league star Johnathan Thurston has kicked up something of a storm in Australia after indicating that he could be set to switch codes.

The halfback told the Daily Telegraph that he fancies the idea of becoming a Wallaby, leading to outrage from some fans of the Kangaroos.

It's led to an argument over whether or not he truly wants to play union, with the cynics believing it's all just an attempt to bump up his value.

One fan simply suggested Thurston, who was one of the heroes of the Four Nations, should "shut up and go".

But former rugby league great Greg Alexander had some sympathy for him and was quoted as saying: "The world has changed and there are options there for the players. The fans won't like it and a core of rugby people won't like it, but Thurston could command big bucks."

It comes after Kyle Eastmond, a rising league star in England who recently signed a new deal with club St Helens, revealed that a code change could be in his future.