Super Rugby
George Smith rejects Brumbies return talk
ESPN Staff
March 8, 2014
George Smith made a remarkable return to Super Rugby in 2013 © Getty Images
Enlarge

George Smith will not make another Brumbies comeback to replace injured flanker David Pocock, saying he needs down time before joining French Pro D2 pacesetters Lyon.

Smith returned from Japan to Australia last year to play for the Brumbies, replacing Pocock when the latter needed a knee reconstruction, and the veteran wrote one of the most engaging stories of the season in playing the Super Rugby final and earning a Wallabies recall against the British & Irish Lions.

Smith, who has just returned to Australia after completing the Japanese Top League season with Suntory Sungoliath, told Fairfax Media on Friday that he had "several reasons" why he couldn't replace Pocock again this year as he did last year, most notably that he needed a " mental break from rugby and that physical break".

"I want to put myself in the best condition for Lyon who will hopefully be in the Top 14 . . . and the way they have been going they will be," Smith told Fairfax Media. "I haven't had an off-season for five years now. I wouldn't want to do another campaign with the Brumbies. But I will still wish them well."

Smith said the Brumbies would be better served by picking Jarrad Butler, Lachie McCaffrey, Jordan Smiler or Fotu Auelua from their existing back-rowers, saying "you trust your recruitment and you trust your players coming through".

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices