Trans-Tasman battle looms for Collins
October 10, 2000

The Australian and New South Wales Rugby Unions may have jumped the gun in announcing they had signed Auckland Blues flanker Justin Collins.

The three-year contract, reportedly worth $A200,000 a season, would see the Tasmanian-born Collins play for New South Wales and be eligible for Wallaby selection.

However, if Collins is picked for the All Blacks or New Zealand A before the end of this year then all bets are off. To be eligible to play for any of the Australian Super 12 sides, a player must be eligible for Wallaby selection - however to be available for Wallaby selection a player must not have been previously selected in another country's senior or A sides.

Collins and Scott Robertson are the front-runners to replace Josh Kronfeld on the side of the All Black scrum for their upcoming tour of Japan. The tour squad will be announced in the next two weeks, while Collins' contract with the NZRFU does not end until the end of this year.

The 26-year-old Collins has played for Waikato and Auckland in the Super 12 and was previously selected in the New Zealand Colts and Under 19 sides. He has lived in New Zealand for the past 10 years.

Northland coach Bryce Woodward believed Collins would only act on the Australian contract if he missed selection in the New Zealand sides.

The ARU is no stranger to global tugs-of-war for players after disputing Jason Jones-Hughes' eligibility to play for Wales in last year's World Cup.

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