Thanks but no thanks. Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh has put an end to any thought the governing body might target Parramatta Eels playmaker Dylan Brown.
After News Corp reported that Brown’s management had reached out to RA about any interest in the 24-year-old recently, Waugh, unsurprisingly, put a halt to any possibility the NRL playmaker could follow code-hopper Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and find a new home in Australian rugby.
Asked whether he was interested in talking to the Eels five-eighth, Waugh put the chit-chat to bed.
“Not really,” Waugh told SEN’s Matt White.
“I saw some commentary from RA on that and we are focused on our own backyard and want to keep on developing. We have got some great depth across all positions.
“[Head coach] Joe [Schmidt] is building a strong culture in and amongst the group.”
Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown is keeping his options open, but Super Rugby isn’t likely to be an option. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Probed whether his stance was on Brown or all players in the NRL, Waugh said the governing body would “always have an open mind” but they wouldn’t just go after anyone willy nilly.
“It’s about ensuring we’re picking the right people across the game and the right talent to strengthen the Super Rugby teams as well as the Wallabies environment,” said Waugh, a decorated former flanker and former Wallabies and Waratahs captain.
“Joe has built a really strong squad. I think that what you will see is players that play with each other frequently normally perform better, and we’ve seen those combinations build out in 2024 and hopefully more in 2025.”
RA’s position is hardly surprising given the governing body is trying to slow the wage inflation, which has put most national unions at risk of going under financially.
It’s meant that RA has taken the position that they won’t break the bank for players who can earn significant riches overseas.
As such, RA was never likely to make a play for Brown, who is testing the market and hoping to attract offers of around $1 million a season.
More pressing for Waugh is locking down Schmidt, who is only contracted until the end of the Lions series in early August.
Joe Schmidt has yet to reveal whether he’ll keep coaching the Wallabies beyond the Lions series. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Despite setting a December timeline on making a decision, Schmidt has remained silent on his future, opting not to conduct a press conference at the Wallabies’ pre-season camp in early January, with RA holding out hope that the New Zealander will sign on through to the 2027 World Cup.
“There’s obviously a lot of interest in this element, and Joe’s been fantastic since he came as national coach at the start of 2024,” said Waugh, who previously told reporters that RA was willing to get creative to keep Schmidt in Australian rugby.
“We’re still working through [it].
“We talked through the fact that we’d have liked to have closed the position by the end of 2024, but that’s obviously crept into 2025 and we’re still working through with Joe, and others, around what post the Lions looks like to ensure we have the right environment, the right culture and the right performance from our Wallabies.
“So it’s a work in progress around what the future looks like for the Wallabies coaching structure post the Lions tour.”
Asked what “creative” meant, Waugh added: “I think everyone’s really enjoyed him being in the environment and leading the group, so it’s about how do we work with Joe for what works for him and the Wallaby environment post the Lions.”
RA CEO Phil Waugh (R) with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt (L) in 2024. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Waugh said he would sound out Michael Hooper’s interest in playing in an Anzac combined side to take on the British and Irish Lions in July after the former Wallabies captain came out of retirement to play for Steve Hansen’s Toyota side in the Japanese League One competition.
“It’s great to see Hoops lacing the boots up again,” Waugh said.
“That game on the 12th July in Adelaide, Australia and New Zealand versus the Lions one week out from the first Test, we want to put out a very high profile team, so if Hoops is fit I look forward to having a conversation around what his involvement in that game would look like.”
