Break may cost Clifton

SAM Clifton may miss out on the chance to retain the captaincy of Bond University’s Queensland Premier Rugby squad after an extended break pursuing his off-field career.

The prop has been chipping away at his dreams of becoming a doctor and is interning in the US until mid-March.

A decision on the captaincy is likely to take place around the time the club heads to Lake Ainsworth in northern NSW for a camp on March 3-4.

Bond director of rugby Sean Hedger reiterated that no decisions had been made but said Clifton “will always be part of the club leadership group”.

Hedger added Tai Ford and Salesi Manu should soon return to the playing group after spending time in the Queensland Reds’ wider training squad.

“They’ll come back after training professionally for 10 weeks over summer so they are going to add a lot to the program,” he said.

Bond’s top side will play three trials in the pre-season: Against Easts on February 24, against Sydenham from New Zealand on March 10 and against GPS on March 17.