Karmichael playing without insurance cover
Patrick Molihan | November 7th, 2009
The Gold Coast AFL club's high profile signing, former Bronco Karmichael Hunt is playing his French rugby union stint without injury insurance
GOLD Coast AFL fans had better keep their fingers crossed because prized recruit Karmichael Hunt is tackling rugby union in France `sans' any safety net.
The former Broncos is yet to make his debut with Biarritz in France's Top 14. Initially he was waiting on a clearance from the controlling body but no sooner had that arrived, and Biarritz's clash with Racing Metro Paris was washed out.
Hunt will now have to wait until after the break for the Autumn internationals in the northern hemisphere.
But whenever he plays, Gold Coast bosses will be nervous because he is not carrying any special extra insurance against injury.
"There's no insurance there but you know I should be fine," Hunt said during a break in training at Biarritz's home ground Parc des Sports Aguilera.
"I'm sure in the back of everyone's minds, along with professional sport comes injuries but you know I'm not thinking about injuries or what not.
"Fingers crossed I get through this period scratch free."
Hunt arrived in Biarritz nursing a few wounds after plenty of league greats took aim at his decision to slip in a quick stint of rugby union before preparing to join the AFL with the Gold Coast in 2011.
He had the option of rugby signed off on by the Gold Coast before he became the star signing and is 'thankful' for their support in what he defends as a chance to sample life away from the football merry-go-round in Australia.
"I've always wanted to travel and being a full-time football player, whether it be league or union -- or not so much union but AFL -- you're locked in for the best part of a whole year in training and you very rarely get to experience other parts of the world.
"(This is) I guess purely for experience and obviously for a journey for myself and my girlfriend who's over here with me.
"With the Gold Coast team not being in the competition until 2011 there was a period where you know was a perfect opportunity for me to go and experience life overseas and experience other cultures and there's not a better place than Biarritz in the south of France to actually be living what I want to do."
The criticism of his three codes in 18 months switch have been like water off a duck's back to Hunt. While some of it has even come from former team mates at the Broncos he's not fazed.
"I don't see what's the negative in wanting to do something," he said.
"Every day people want to change paths in their career whether it be in the business world or sport. I'm no different.
"I had a glance at it (criticism) but didn't worry too much. I guess there's a lot of you know over-opinionated ex footballers that are in the media or not even in the media that are putting their two bobs worth in every now and then.
"That's their prerogative and they obviously took their time to comment on my situation but as I said I never lost any sleep over it at all."
Nor is Hunt waking up at night worried about how the eventual move to AFL will go.
For now he's just concentrating on union but has brought a Sherrin with him to have a kick every now and then because he's determined to prove a hit in what will be his biggest challenge with the switch to AFL with the Gold Coast.
"I definitely know I want to make a red-hot go of it and obviously play top grade and consistent football," he said.
"I'm not crossing over as I said from the start to play second division. You know all these people that are commenting on my situation, whether I'll play a game or whether I'll play numerous games. Well I guess that's all paper talk.
"I'm not there to keep them happy. I'm there to make myself happy and obviously prove to myself and our coaches and help our team succeed in the opening couple of years."
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