WALLABIES prop Ben Alexander admits his purchase of a pub in Canberra could influence his decision on whether to stay in Australia or pursue his career overseas after the World Cup in England this year.
Alexander, 30, bought The Dock on the Kingston foreshore six months ago, along with Wallabies teammate Scott Fardy and friends.
While Alexander’s commitment to the pub would not preclude him from playing overseas, it is something he will consider when he makes a decision about his future.
“I haven’t thought too far down the track,” Alexander said.
“This business opportunity only popped up six months ago. We’re lucky, Fards and I, the pub effectively runs itself with our business partners.
“Their family has been in the pub game for 40 years. They do the vast majority of the work.
“The pub would certainly survive without me, but it would definitely be a factor in considering whether I stay or leave.
“I’d like to stay. I love playing for the Brumbies and I love playing for the Wallabies.
“I would definitely like to stay, but I’ll just wait and see what happens.
“There’s a lot of factors to consider. There is a lot to weigh up in making a decision.”
Patrons of The Dock will raise their glasses when Alexander celebrates his 100th Super Rugby game for the Brumbies in the season-opener against the Queensland Reds in Canberra on Friday night.
“Pretty happy. Pretty proud I got to play 100 games for the club I supported ever since I was playing rugby at school,” Alexander said. “They had players I loved watching as a kid, not so much Stephen Larkham (tongue-in-cheek), but the George Smiths, Owen Finegans, these sort of guys, Joe Roff. They were my heroes as a kid.”
Alexander said the highlight of his career in Canberra was reaching the Super Rugby final in 2013 where they just fell short against the Chiefs.
“The 2013 finals campaign was pretty special,” Alexander said. “We lost the last game of the season in Perth, but then we came back, just beat the Cheetahs, went to South Africa, beat the Bulls in the semi and led the Chiefs in the final for about 60 to 65 minutes.
“Not to push on from there was pretty disappointing, but it was still a memorable three weeks.”
The Brumbies were eliminated by the NSW Waratahs in last year’s Super Rugby semi-finals, but Alexander was confident the side still has the potential to win the title.
“We definitely do. We’ve had to learn the hard way, especially the last two years,” Alexander said.
“We need to be consistent throughout the year and get a good path through the finals.
“Getting that top-two spot and home preliminary final in the first week of the finals is crucial because you look at the sides that have won it recently and they have done that.
“We still have the core of the last two to three years together plus we’ve got David Pocock back from injury.
“If we can keep everyone on the field, we’ll do well.”
Alexander made his Super Rugby debut against the Reds in Canberra in 2008 so it is fitting he brings up his ton against Queensland.
“It’s exciting to get the first one of the season,” Alexander said. “We were pretty excited about round one last year and the Reds played extremely well and did us quite convincingly.
“We are looking to get the season off to the right start and not be chasing our tail from round one.”
Packing down against Test loosehead prop James Slipper, a good performance will also help Alexander’s Test chances, but his focus was on the Brumbies.
“Everyone wants to make the World Cup squad and everyone wants to start, but if you worry too much about six months down the track, then you’ll lose sight of what’s happening now,” Alexander said.
Source: The Australian - 11th February 2015
