Rugby Union - by Craig Hill

He is in a class of his own. Actually....Hewat belongs with the Brumbies

Peter Hewat will pursue a lucrative overseas contract offer before his current deal expires next year if the door is closed on his Wallabies selection hopes and the NSW and Australian rugby unions may not stand in his way.

"That's true. If the Wallabies are out then I may talk about seeking a release on my last year," said Hewat, who has had offers from France, England and Japan. "I've tried not to think about it over the last weeks because I have wanted to concentrate on the Super 14 and not let it affect my game.

"But now as we are getting to the last couple of games and the Wallabies will soon start, I'll have to think about it. There comes a time when I have to think about the future.

"But I have loved every minute at the Waratahs and really appreciate what Ewen [McKenzie] has done. He saw in me what others may not have, or still don't."

NSW coach McKenzie yesterday said.....if Hewat - who potted four from five kicks against the Highlanders and scored two of NSW's three tries to extend his career tally of Super 14 points to 489 and season score to 125 - is not in the Wallabies selection frame, then NSW Rugby and the ARU should at least consider giving him a clearance.

McKenzie said for a player such as Hewat, who is 29 and has already rejected offers because of his desire to play for Australia, there is "a human element in all this. I don't think you want to be too bloody-minded about it".

"We've always had a philosophy to try to develop players for the national team," McKenzie said. "If it becomes clear that someone's never going to play for the national team … we're not talking about a 20-year-old here. We're talking about a guy that's [almost] 30-plus and there's some big opportunities for him.

"He's had really serious offers thrown at him from overseas and he's spurned those the last couple of years. Rightly so, because we've had him on contract."