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Toomua won't be frozen out: Cheika

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says Matt Toomua's decision to switch to English club rugby next season will not affect his selection for Australia.

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Source: AAP


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Matt Toomua's looming defection to English club rugby will not affect his chances of selection for the Wallabies next season, according to coach Michael Cheika.

The 25-year-old Brumbies playmaker has signed a three-year deal with Leicester from 2017 after exercising a get-out clause in his contract at Canberra-based Super Rugby club.

Cheika, who is in England coaching the Barbarians, told News Corp Australia, Toomua would not be frozen out by the Wallabies.

"He's not coming (to England) until 2017, so he's still got a season of Super Rugby and international rugby to play this coming season," the Wallabies coach said.

"He'll be considered for full international commitments; there's no reason why he wouldn't be. He's committed to Australia until that time and he's been a big part of the Australian team.

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"We had a couple of discussions about it, and just like with a few other players who have gone overseas I'll be ringing him every couple of weeks and saying, when are you coming home? Get out of there, come back."

Toomua is one of several Wallabies to sign overseas deals who have not played the 60 Tests required to be eligible under the overseas player rule implemented to make the likes of France-based Matt Giteau available for the World Cup.

Cheika won't lobbying to have the eligibility mark lowered to accommodate players like Toomua who has played 31 Tests.

"I'm good with where we're at," he said.

Cheika's Barbarians hammered Gloucester 62-14 at Kingsholm on Tuesday and face Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).


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