Source :- THE AGE NEWS
After signing British and Irish Lions stars Finn Russell and Henry Pollock to his stable of world-famous boxers, leading promoter Eddie Hearn has Wallabies and Waratahs star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii on his radar ahead of his return from injury on Friday against the Western Force in Sydney.
Suaalii has been limited to just two Super Rugby games this season after injuring his hamstring, and is in line to take on fellow code-hopper Zac Lomax in his return. Lomax has impressed in his early outings for the Force.
Hearn initially signed Pollock and Russell after seeing untapped potential in rugby. Ahead of next year’s World Cup in Australia, Hearn admitted Suaalii’s name has come up frequently in his Matchroom Sport boardroom just outside London.
Waratahs coach Dan McKellar acknowledged the effect of Suaalii’s absence after his side’s loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday.
“He’s a player we’ve missed. In the 23 games [we’ve played], he’s played eight since he’s been here,” McKellar said. “I hope we can turn that around to help us achieve what we want to achieve.”
Hearn will be keeping close tabs on Suaalii’s return this week, given he is in Melbourne to promote an interim WBC bantamweight title fight between former Olympian Skye Nicholson and Mariah Turner.
“We’ve probably had well over 20 [rugby] players come on, female and male worldwide, and we’re not really looking to create a rugby agency, if I’m honest, but what we will do is take on extraordinary talent, and with massive star potential,” Hearn said.
“I’m aware of him [Suaalii], because now we’re actually invested [in rugby], and my board will say to me, this guy [Suaalii], and he’s come up many times in conversations. Yeah, listen, pass on my number, and when I’m there [in Australia]. I’ll have a little coffee with him, you never know.”
Suaalii is managed by powerful Australian agent Isaac Moses. Moses has overseen Suaalii’s growing career and been able to secure lucrative deals in league and union.
Hearn’s Matchroom Sport has some of boxing’s biggest names on its books, including former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. It also has interests in snooker and darts.
Hearn has been surprised at the public’s reaction to the Pollock signing, which has encouraged him to expand his interests in rugby.
“It is creating such interest, and maybe that says something about rugby – it’s a different audience and a different kind of people,” Hearn said.
“Like, I went on holiday to a very nice resort that’s full of a lot of people with a lot of money, and I got swamped about Henry Pollock. There were kids coming up, and they’ve all got Pollock shirts, they’re all doing this.
“He’s the kind of guy that is going to drive rugby at grassroots level. Who else is going to do that?
“Our simple job is to grow their profiles and drive commercial revenue for them as an agency.”
Hearn has previously been approached by rugby league officials in England to help drive the sport in its northern heartlands, but for the moment, his focus remains in rugby.
In boxing, Hearn has a long history of using personalities to drive the fights he is promoting, and he believes Australian rugby stars could have the same potential.
“They’re [rugby stars] massive in a small pond, but there’s a whole world out there and I think, really, there needs to be a little bit more of a globalisation of the sport,” Hearn said.
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