Italian Rugby
Gower weighing up NRL return
ESPNscrum Staff
April 10, 2011
Italy fly-half Craig Gower evades a tackle, Italy v Argentina, Verona, Italy, November 13, 2010
Craig gower won the last of his 14 Italy caps against Argentina in November © Getty Images
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Teams: Bayonne | Italy

Italy fly-half Craig Gower is reportedly on the brink of a move back to rugby league with former club Penrith Panthers.

The 32-year-old is out of contract with French club Bayonne at the end of the season and is weighing up a return to his native Australia or pushing for a role in Italy's Rugby World Cup campaign in New Zealand.

"At the moment we're having a bit of a chat," Gower told ABC Radio on Sunday. "I'm off-contract and I'm looking at my options while I'm back in Australia."

Gower has also held informal talks with Parramatta, but admitted that a return to the Panthers, where he led the side to a National Rugby League final victory over the Sydney Roosters in 2003, was a draw.

"Of course, that's where I played all my footy and I'm part of the furniture out here," he said. "That could be an option. I'll see how things transpire."

Panthers coach Matt Elliott has indicated that Gower would be welcomed back to the club.

"I think depending on Gowie's fitness, and you can't question his desire to return to the NRL and I think it's his home club, so there's some things there that make some sense," he said.

Gower represented the Panthers and won 18 caps for Australia before switching codes with a move to Bayonne in 2008. He won a call up to the Italian national side for the first time in June 2009 and the last of his 14 caps for came against Argentina last November. However he missed the Six Nations with a knee ligament injury.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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