Michael Cheika keen to keep star flanker David Pocock in Australia
Thursday 18 February 2016 00:36, UK
Michael Cheika is hopeful flanker David Pocock can be persuaded to stay in Australia despite big-money offers from Europe.
The Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday that Wasps were looking to add to their signing of Danny Cipriani by bringing the 27-year-old to England and potentially making him the highest-paid player in world rugby, however Dai Young has since said that Wasps are not in talks with the Wallaby.
Pocock is said to be considering a year away from the sport to study at an overseas university once his Australian Rugby Union and ACT Brumbies contract expires at the end of the year.
But the report said Pocock could be open to playing in England after enjoying his experience at last year's Rugby World Cup.
"We're always going to be outgunned by the money over there, we know that," Cheika said.
"We have to present a combination of finances... as well as what it's going to be like playing here in Australia and how you're going to grow as a player and a person.
"We present all those things correctly to him, or to any player for that matter, and I believe that they would stay.
"He's obviously going to get massive offers overseas because clubs are loaded and he's one of the best players in the world and if you put two and two together, you're going to get that result.
"I've been really happy that Brian Levine, his manager, and David, have been straight up with us from day one and that's given us a nice target for us to achieve to put a package together to get him to continue playing his rugby here.
"He's a smart guy and he'll make the right choice."
