Pocock gooooone?

TeWaio

<p>Looks like he's thinking of following in the footsteps of Anton Oliver, Mark Ranby, Joe Roff, Dan Vickerman, Jamie Roberts etc</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/10/david-pocock-considers-12-month-break-from-rugby-to-study-in-england'>http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/10/david-pocock-considers-12-month-break-from-rugby-to-study-in-england</a></p>
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	David Pocock considers 12-month break from rugby to study in England
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<div style="font-family:'Guardian Egyptian Web', 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif;color:rgb(118,118,118);">
<ul><li>Wallabies World Cup star weighing up sabbatical at Oxford or Cambridge</li>
<li>Brumbies chief executive says such a move would create â€˜all sorts of problemsâ€™</li>
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<div><a class="" href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/10/david-pocock-considers-12-month-break-from-rugby-to-study-in-england#img-1"><img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3c53aa27d464cb4e997054b19bd13fd9b7a7a3f7/0_0_2455_1475/master/2455.jpg?w=300&q=85&auto=format&sharp=10&s=936c5f96852b6eec787976b9af41967d" alt="2455.jpg?w=300&q=85&auto=format&sharp=10"></a></div>
<a class="" href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/10/david-pocock-considers-12-month-break-from-rugby-to-study-in-england#img-1"><span></span></a> David Pocock was a star performer for Australia at last yearâ€™s World Cup, but the Wallabies may have to make do without him for the next 12 months. Photograph: Kieran Galvin/Rex Shutterstock<div>
<p class="" style="font-weight:bold;color:rgb(118,118,118);">Australian Associated Press</p>
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Tuesday 9 February 2016&nbsp;<span>22.53&nbsp;GMT</span>
Last modified on Wednesday 10 February 2016<span>09.56&nbsp;GMT</span><div>

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<p>Australia international David Pocock is expected to decide within the next 10 days whether to take a sabbatical from Australian rugby in 2017 to study.</p>
<p>The Brumbies back-rower is locked in an Australian Rugby Union contract until the end of this season, but is said to be weighing up a year-long move overseas to pursue interests outside of the game.</p>
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	<a  class="">Quade Cooper hopeful of Australia sevens debut with agreement in place</a>
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<p>Pocock, the Wallabiesâ€™ best player at the 2015 World Cup, is currently in discussions with Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham and chief executive Michael Jones. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has also reportedly been in Canberra to discuss the 27-year-oldâ€™s future.</p>
<p>â€œWe acknowledge heâ€™s probably one of the best players in the world and we want him at the Brumbies,â€ Jones told ABC Radio on Wednesday. â€œThe problem is, the demand and the interest in David has skyrocketed.</p>
<p>â€œWeâ€™ve sort of had the first offer to him and a counter-offer back ... so I would say a week or 10 days and we should have it wrapped up hopefully.â€</p>
<p>While not ideal in the Brumbiesâ€™ minds, allowing Pocock to attend Oxford or Cambridge University for a year would still give him two full Super Rugby seasons to prepare for the 2019 World Cup.</p>
<p>As well as being pursued by cashed-up Japanese and French clubs, he is also being touted as a possible replacement for Liam Gill at the Queensland Reds after the flanker announced a new deal with Toulon from 2017.</p>
<p>Pocock is currently studying for a Bachelor of Ecological Agricultural Systems degree, however he has not confirmed whether he will continue in this direction next year.</p>
<p>Jones said Pocock had for some time indicated interests beyond rugby but his rise to prominence at last yearâ€™s World Cup got him re-energised and excited about the game again.</p>
<p>â€œSo I think heâ€™s got a bit of a conflict within himself about where heâ€™s going and what heâ€™s doing,â€ added Jones.</p>
<p>Pocock is set to play in Fridayâ€™s trial match against the Queensland Reds at Ballymore, after being rested from last weekendâ€™s trial loss to the NSW Waratahs in Wagga Wagga.</p>
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canefan

<p>He's always danced to the beat of his own drum. Good on him for looking at the rest of his life now. If he makes it back he does but I'm sure he won't lose sleep over it</p>

MN5

<p>Mark Ranby......gosh there's a name I haven't heard for awhile.</p>

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="557905" data-time="1455136508">
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<p>Mark Ranby......gosh there's a name I haven't heard for awhile.</p>
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<p>Remembered for being AB #1001.</p>

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="557906" data-time="1455136740">
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<p>Remembered for being AB #1001.</p>
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<p>....and for everyone saying "Thank fuck" when Alama Ieremia came back from injury to take the 13 jersey back off him for the mighty Canes in 1998.</p>

jegga

Has Bonocock tweeted his thoughts on the TPPA yet?

mooshld

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="557911" data-time="1455139100">
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<p>Has Bonocock tweeted his thoughts on the TPPA yet?</p>
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<p>I don't really think that's fair. It's not like he stops mid rugby game to preach to you. Were as the U2 concert I went to that is exactly what Bono did. For 15 minutes.</p>
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<p>Joke was on him though I was too drunk to give a shit.</p>

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="557911" data-time="1455139100">
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<p>Has Bonocock tweeted his thoughts on the TPPA yet?</p>
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<p>Can't remember him tweeting anything about it. Maybe he doesn't feel qualified to comment on such complex financial matters? I mean, I don't know any pro rugby player that would have the time to get up to speed on that sort of thing enough to broadcast their opinion.</p>
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<p>:think:</p>

jegga

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="558023" data-time="1455179091">
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<p>Can't remember him tweeting anything about it. Maybe he doesn't feel qualified to comment on such complex financial matters? I mean, I don't know any pro rugby player that would have the time to get up to speed on that sort of thing enough to broadcast their opinion.</p>
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<p> :think:</p>
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<p><img src="http://www.h2g2.com/h2g2/skins/Alabaster/images/Smilies/f_facepalm.gif" alt="f_facepalm.gif"></p>

NTA

Siam

<p>I like that Pocock fella...except for about 80 minutes 3-4 times a year when he's a total fluffybunny :)</p>
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<p>Nearly always impressed by someone who's prepared to speak up for the benefit of the persecuted i.e. fags and trees</p>
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<p>I spoiled my goodwill message at the end didn't I ? :think:</p>
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<p>But I don't hate Pocock, weakens the Wallabies appreciably by his absence though :good:</p>

TeWaio

<p>I should add Mark Robinson to that list. Who actually made the ABs AFTER studying at Cambridge, which is a bit unusual. </p>

Siam

<p>You ever run into ex Otago and Richmond winger Jason Wright at Cambridge Te Waio?</p>

nostrildamus

<p>"Pocock, the Wallabiesâ€™ best player at the 2015 World Cup" was he their best player by the end of the RWC though? Looked a bit burnt out or out-thought to me.</p>

TeWaio

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="558054" data-time="1455191182">
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<p>You ever run into ex Otago and Richmond winger Jason Wright at Cambridge Te Waio?</p>
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<p> Nope...was there 05-09 and then again 11-13</p>

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nostrildamus" data-cid="558055" data-time="1455191855">
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<p>"Pocock, the Wallabiesâ€™ best player at the 2015 World Cup" was he their best player by the end of the RWC though? Looked a bit burnt out or out-thought to me.</p>
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<p>Do you have another nomination?</p>

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="558081" data-time="1455220006">
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<p>Do you have another nomination?</p>
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<p>Douglas and Fardy were superior simply amongst the forwards.</p>

Rancid Schnitzel

Good riddance you jazz hands waving greenie poofter.

NTA

<p>LOL @ Rancid. What is it you don't like about him, specifically? Its not really clear from that. ;)</p>
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<p>Douglas and Fardy were superior simply amongst the forwards.</p>
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<p>Douglas was a massive loss in the final. He and Fardy were two standouts for sure and their work allowed others (incl Pocock) to do their thing. But Pocock was probably better across the whole tournament, if not at the end, just in terms of threatening opposition ball. Just wasn't as effective against the ABs.</p>
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<p>Was just nice to see our forward pack operating as a forward pack, for a change.</p>

SammyC

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<p>LOL @ Rancid. What is it you don't like about him, specifically? Its not really clear from that. ;)</p>
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<p>It's obviously a jealousy thing :)</p>

The Silver Fern

Pocock gooooone?