Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has reportedly approached rugby league superstar Kalyn Ponga to make a dramatic code switch.
The Newcastle Knights and Queensland Maroons fullback was said to have been phoned personally by Cheika to ask if he would consider a move back to the 15-man game, which he played as a schoolboy in New Zealand, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Cheika reportedly confirmed to the newspaper that he did call Ponga to discuss a potential move to union late last year.
But with the 21-year-old's future currently unclear, after putting contract talks with Newcastle on hold until 2021, the Australia national team boss would not reveal the outcome of the conversation, as the player was focused on playing for the Knights and Queensland.
If he did revert back to union, Ponga would be eligible for the All Blacks, after growing up in Palmerston North between the ages of 8-13.
But the Telegraph also quoted an unnamed source close to Rugby Australia, who said: "There would be no embarrassment in trying to get Kalyn Ponga to rugby union.
"That would be smart."
AAP
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