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http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/21/2497711.htm
Wallaby fly half Matt Giteau will leave the Western Force and return to the Brumbies next season, agreeing a two-year deal with his former club.
Giteau's contract with the Force was thrown into limbo when his third-party sponsorship fell through after the collapse of Firepower Holdings.
The number 10 had previously stated he would decide on his future at the end of this year's Super 14 season.
But Giteau says his eagerness to return to Canberra forced his hand.
"I was very fortunate to have two fantastic offers to consider. In the end it came down to a simple desire to return to Canberra," he said.
"Having committed to the Wallabies and Australian Rugby until the end of 2011, it was just my Super 14 future that I needed to consider."
The Brumbies were favourites along with French side Bayonne to secure Giteau's services after the fly half's three seasons in the West.
Giteau said the decision to move back was not salary-based, if it was he said he would have stayed with the Force.
"I'm quite proud of myself and what I've done here," he said.
"I feel proud of myself that I have honoured my contract and saw out my three years here.
"The fact I was looking at renegotiating to stay on longer obviously shows how much I like Perth and playing with the boys.
"But we all have to make decisions, and I've made mine."
RugbyWA chief executive Greg Harris thanked Giteau for his efforts, but says the future is bright.
"It is a blow for the Western Force however where one door closes, another one opens and Matt's departure will provide an opportunity for someone like a James O'Connor to step forward and assume a more influential role in our team," he said.
Firepower saga
The 25-year-old said the Firepower saga had an impact on a lot of players as well as people outside of the club, but he didn't let it affect his form.
"Football was a good release to get away from it," he said.
"I think that Firepower saga was always there, and a few of the players who were involved with it were finding it tough when you weren't playing or training because you were always chasing up, seeing what's happening with it."
"I thought rugby was a good release, nobody really spoke about it we just worried about football. That is probably what's made it so enjoyable about being here."
"It was the Firepower that got me here initially, had that not come about I probably would have stayed in Canberra."
Wait and see
Rumours have constantly circled around Giteau's relationship with coach John Mitchell, but the playmaker was quick to shut down any problems between the two.
But despite being determined on reaching the finals of the competition in his last season, Giteau still had a wait and see approach to the response from his Force team-mates.
"Hopefully I think the group will support my decision. When I was in Canberra I had to play two games there knowing that I was coming to Perth and the boys were great, so hopefully the same will be done here," he said.
Giteau said he hadn't informed all his team-mates of his decision but did not want the focus to be on him over the team's preparations for what was a much-need win over the Cheetahs on Friday night.
"I didn't want to cause any distractions, leading into a game where we felt we needed to get our season on track and get our first win.
"I didn't really feel it was appropriate to worry about my own situation as much."
Giteau will not have to wait long to take on his future team-mates, focussed on leading the Force on a trip to Canberra next week.
"I'm still contracted with the Western Force, still playing for the Western Force, I'll be giving my all. I'll go into this game like I go into any game, looking to win and play my best rugby," he said.
Wallaby fly half Matt Giteau will leave the Western Force and return to the Brumbies next season, agreeing a two-year deal with his former club.
Giteau's contract with the Force was thrown into limbo when his third-party sponsorship fell through after the collapse of Firepower Holdings.
The number 10 had previously stated he would decide on his future at the end of this year's Super 14 season.
But Giteau says his eagerness to return to Canberra forced his hand.
"I was very fortunate to have two fantastic offers to consider. In the end it came down to a simple desire to return to Canberra," he said.
"Having committed to the Wallabies and Australian Rugby until the end of 2011, it was just my Super 14 future that I needed to consider."
The Brumbies were favourites along with French side Bayonne to secure Giteau's services after the fly half's three seasons in the West.
Giteau said the decision to move back was not salary-based, if it was he said he would have stayed with the Force.
"I'm quite proud of myself and what I've done here," he said.
"I feel proud of myself that I have honoured my contract and saw out my three years here.
"The fact I was looking at renegotiating to stay on longer obviously shows how much I like Perth and playing with the boys.
"But we all have to make decisions, and I've made mine."
RugbyWA chief executive Greg Harris thanked Giteau for his efforts, but says the future is bright.
"It is a blow for the Western Force however where one door closes, another one opens and Matt's departure will provide an opportunity for someone like a James O'Connor to step forward and assume a more influential role in our team," he said.
Firepower saga
The 25-year-old said the Firepower saga had an impact on a lot of players as well as people outside of the club, but he didn't let it affect his form.
"Football was a good release to get away from it," he said.
"I think that Firepower saga was always there, and a few of the players who were involved with it were finding it tough when you weren't playing or training because you were always chasing up, seeing what's happening with it."
"I thought rugby was a good release, nobody really spoke about it we just worried about football. That is probably what's made it so enjoyable about being here."
"It was the Firepower that got me here initially, had that not come about I probably would have stayed in Canberra."
Wait and see
Rumours have constantly circled around Giteau's relationship with coach John Mitchell, but the playmaker was quick to shut down any problems between the two.
But despite being determined on reaching the finals of the competition in his last season, Giteau still had a wait and see approach to the response from his Force team-mates.
"Hopefully I think the group will support my decision. When I was in Canberra I had to play two games there knowing that I was coming to Perth and the boys were great, so hopefully the same will be done here," he said.
Giteau said he hadn't informed all his team-mates of his decision but did not want the focus to be on him over the team's preparations for what was a much-need win over the Cheetahs on Friday night.
"I didn't want to cause any distractions, leading into a game where we felt we needed to get our season on track and get our first win.
"I didn't really feel it was appropriate to worry about my own situation as much."
Giteau will not have to wait long to take on his future team-mates, focussed on leading the Force on a trip to Canberra next week.
"I'm still contracted with the Western Force, still playing for the Western Force, I'll be giving my all. I'll go into this game like I go into any game, looking to win and play my best rugby," he said.
