Queue forming for Whitaker
April 26, 2002

A queue is forming to snap up the services of Wallaby and Waratah scrum-half Chris Whitaker who may play his last home Super 12 game for the Sydney-based side this weekend.

The NSWRU and Australian Rugby Union have yet to enter into negotiations to extend Whitaker's contract beyond this year and so leading clubs in the UK and Ireland have already approached George Gregan's 10-Test Wallaby deputy.

Whitaker revealed to the Daily Telegraph that he has spoken to Australian-based decision-makers at Leicester, Bristol and Munster.

"I'd like to stay, especially with the World Cup coming up next year," he said.

"But you never know these days. No one from here has spoken to me and it hasn't really bothered me until now.

"But I'd like to get the ball rolling by the end of Super 12. Maybe things will start moving once (coach) Bob Dwyer gets his position sorted out. I guess they'll start approaching people then about next year."

Whitaker has already had discussions with former NSW assistant coach Alan Gaffney, who is head coach at Irish province Munster, and former Wallabies James Grant and Rod Kafer, now the backline coaches at English clubs Bristol and Leicester.

"Whether I go now or later is the decision to make," said Whitaker, who became a father for the first time several months back.

"I guess in some ways it's a good time to go for a couple of years before you have children at school. I'll just have to wait and see what develops."

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