Australia hooker Adam Freier has turned down the lure of a big-money move overseas to join the Melbourne Rebels.
Australia hooker turns down big-money move to Europe
Australia hooker Adam Freier has turned down the lure of a big-money move to Europe to join the Melbourne Rebels.
Freier, who has been capped 25 times, has agreed to swap the Waratahs for the newly-formed franchise after signing a two-year deal.
And the 30-year-old has immediately set his sights on winning his place back in the Australia side.
"I still have a burning aspiration to play in the green and gold," he said. "If I didn't I would probably have gone to Europe.
"Over the last two years, when forced to sit on the sidelines, my passion for the game has increased, not waned.
"My ambition to play for the Wallabies again cannot be measured.
Belief
"Everything you do as a professional player should be geared towards playing at the highest level for Australia, whether you're an academy player or an established international.
"It is how I feel and I have the belief that I'm good enough to get back there. This will also be my last chance to get to a World Cup, so if the opportunity is there for me to play again for the Wallabies, I'll be ready when the call comes."
Freier will joins former Wallabies team-mates Stirling Mortlock and Sam Cordingley at the Rebels as well as England international Danny Cipriani and Wales No.8 Gareth Delve at the fledgling club.
And Freier is impressed with the quality of the squad coach Rod Macqueen is putting together.
"It's important to get it right off the field before you can advance on it," he said.
"I am genuinely excited by the roster the Rebels are putting together and I look forward to exciting times in 2011."
