Ex-Red handed French lifeline
VETERAN Reds outside back Chris Feauai-Sautia has signed a lifeline six-month contract in the French second division to keep his rugby career alive, after Queensland could not find space for him under the 2021 salary cap.
Feauai-Sautia flew to Oyonnax, on the French border with Switzerland, on Saturday for a short-term deal and the chance to prove himself worthy of an 18-month extension.
There was no fanfare for the departing veteran of 81 Queensland caps, who twice rejected lucrative foreign contracts to extend his stay at Ballymore into a ninth season.
In total, 16 players from the Reds’ 2020 squad have now left the team, with nine signing new contracts, five returning to club rugby and two forced into retirement.
The abrupt mid-season departures of Harry Hockings (Suntory), Izack Rodda (Lyon) and Isaac Lucas (Ricoh) were followed by winger Henry Speight’s move to Biarritz.
Prop twins JP and Ruan Smith have together signed with the Los Angeles Giltinis in Major League Rugby.
Hooker Ed Craig and flyhalf Carter Gordon have signed with Super Rugby rivals Melbourne Rebels, while former Australian under-20s en
forcer Michael Wood has moved to Sydney for a trial with the New South Wales Waratahs and a to-be-decided club berth in the Shute Shield competition.
Former Samoan international scrumhalf Scott Malolua was not offered a contract and has made the call to hang up the boots aged 27.
Former Australian Schoolboys flanker Tom Kibble, 20, has suffered major damage to his shoulder and is awaiting surgical advice on whether a return to rugby at any level will be possible.
Hooker Sean Farrell (Souths) and props Dave Feao (Sunnybank), Jethro Felemi and Jack Straker (both GPS) will join winger Jack Hardy (Easts) in the club rugby ranks after failing to win new Reds contracts.