Wallabies want Roff for camp
September 28, 2001

The Wallabies are trying to reach an agreement with French club Biarritz to release star winger Joe Roff for a pre-European tour camp early next month.

Roff, who holds the Australian record for most consecutive Tests, joined the French team three weeks ago after helping the world champion Wallabies defend their Tri-Nations title against New Zealand and South Africa.

The 26-year-old has played twice for the French club and is scheduled to make his European Cup debut this weekend against English team Bath.

Biarritz want Roff for their second Cup match on October 5, just four days before the Wallabies go into camp to prepare for their three Tests in Europe with England, France and Wales.

He would seem certain to miss his other pre-Christmas games with Biarritz in Europe on October 27 and November 3 as the Wallabies begin their tour on October 20 and will be playing throughout November.

"Obviously our preferred option would be that he be with us on October 9," Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said on Friday. "We sent a letter to Biarritz requesting his availability.

"They've got some issues concerning the European Cup. We are in the process now of hopefully resolving that and we'd like to hear about that sometime next week."

Roff's Biarritz commitments would keep him from playing for the ACT Brumbies in next year's Super 12, but Jones said he hadn't yet thought about whether Roff would be available for Australia's 2002 domestic Test program. - Sapa

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