Aussie rugby’s latest big hit
AUSTRALIAN rugby will lose backrower Sean McMahon, who confirmed he has signed a two-year deal to play in Japan in a move likely to rule him out of the next World Cup.
The 23-year-old will join a Japanese club, tipped to be Suntory, next year and through 2019 under a rich deal.
McMahon and wife Nia agreed the move was best for the Melbourne Rebels star, despite the prospect of missing out on the 2019 World Cup, coincidentally in Japan.
“We’re done with the Rebels after this season, all I can say is I won’t be playing in Australia next year, I will be gone for two years,” he said.
“It was a very big call I’ve made. There were a few factors that came into it, a few personal ones and a few other issues that I don’t really want to go into.
“But it obviously was a big decision for my career, and for my personal life as well. I’m pretty happy with the decision and so is my wife.”
McMahon – who has played 15 Tests, including two in the 2015 World Cup – does not have a clause in his favour to depart after one season, which means he’d need a release to play at the World Cup.
“If I want to come back it will have to be a decision I’ll have to make at that time,” he said. “That’s what me and my wife are looking forward to doing, going over there and experiencing something new, she loves to travel as well so it’s something new for her as well.
“There’s still a chance (I would come back to be eligible for the World Cup), maybe down the track I might change my mind.
“But it was great to have the opportunity to play in a World Cup, not a lot of people get to do that. Having to pass that up definitely was a hard factor in the decision I made.”
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika tried to talk McMahon out of his exit but the flanker had already agreed to terms.
“We sat down and had a really good chat about staying and a lot of the elements of where things are going towards the World Cup. At that stage it was probably just a tad too late,” McMahon said.
“It definitely gave me a lot to want to stay, but in the end it was a choice that I had to make.”
McMahon would have played a lot more Tests had it not been for Michael Hooper and David Pocock also occupying the No.7, but he is not bitter about his limited chances on the international stage.
“They’re great players, I’ve learned so much,” he said.