Interesting…

New Zealand Rugby has offered a mystery deal to Rugby Australia in return for Crusaders back-rower Pete Samu ahead of next month’s series with Ireland.

Melbourne-born Samu was not named in the Wallabies squad yesterday, but head coach Michael Cheika has said he is keeping a ‘spot open’ for him should clearance come through.

“I’ve been told at this point I can’t select him,” Cheika said.

“There is a spot for him there. It’s in others’ hands. I’m not really involved in that part of it. I’m hoping there will be some more clarity about that [on Thursday].”

Samu is eligible for Wallabies selection having signed a deal to move to the Brumbies from next season onwards, but is also available for All Blacks selection through his residency.

Under New Zealand’s contracting rules, any player required by a Test team that is also eligible for New Zealand must be released by NZR, something that they are yet to do for Samu.

NZR has now released a statement saying they have offered a proposal to Rugby AU regarding Samu.

“We put a proposal to Rugby Australia early today, that would allow Pete Samu to be available for June and the Rugby Championship,” the statement read.

“Rugby Australia is currently contemplating this proposal.”

What exactly the proposal entails remains to be seen. It could be a monetary compensation or something entirely different. NZR recently released Hurricanes flanker Brad Shields to England in similar circumstances, but weren’t entirely happy with the whole situation.