Union Converts

Quote: dally messenger "rocky elsom and wycliff palu were basically nrl reserve graders who were pushed out from their clubs because they had no future in RL

they readily got a S14 contract and then played for the wallabies

heck elsom has even captained them

failed nrl player

Elsom was a Rugby Union junior, and went to a Rugby Union school. I'd guess he decided to play Flegg because he could earn more money and a receive a quality football education at that level, moreso than playing Brisbane/Sydney club colts or as a S14 academy contracted player. Once he became too old for Flegg, Elsom may have decided to return to Rugby because a) it was his original code and b) he would get the opportunity to play international Rugby Union.

rlRocky Elsom's junior careerrl

Quote: dally messenger "Elsom was educated at St. Joseph's Nudgee College in Brisbane where he was captain of their rugby union side; he went on to make the Australian Schoolboys side. He was a fast, agile forward for a young man of his size. He was nearly 100 kg when he finished in the Australian Schoolboys side. He then spent two seasons with the Canterbury Bulldogs rugby league club in Sydney and was a front-rower prop in their 2001 premiership-winning Jersey Flegg side. He returned to rugby union in 2003, making his Super 14 debut against the Auckland Blues for the Waratahs. He was also the co-captain of the under-21 Australian national side at the 2003 under-21 World Cup.'"

OTOH, the Sporting Life article referenced on Wycliff Palu's wiki page said that he struggled to crack FG at the Dragons, but it is also possible that his jail sentence for a nightclub altercation may have ended his RL career, and forced him to switch back to Union.