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glasgowwarriors.com · unknown author · 2026-08-19T18:58:48+00:00 · nguồn gốc
The 28-year-old earned a Wallabies call-up from Joe Schmidt in 2024 following an impressive season with Western Force and looked in contention to feature during the July Tests against Wales and Georgia.
However, after opting to play club rugby to maintain his fitness, Kuenzle dislocated his knee just ten minutes into the game.
"It's unfortunate what happened," Kuenzle told Scotland Rugby News. "I had a really good season with the Force, and then I was on the fringes of the squad.
"Trying to keep fit, playing rugby in that first game, I told Joe (Schmidt), that I might play some club rugby, and he was pretty on board with that. Ten minutes into that game, I dislocated my knee.
"100% wish I hadn't played. But it is what it is, that's rugby. You can't control those things. It's obviously been a tough couple of years. Even last year, when I finished the Super Rugby season, the knee wasn't still quite right.
"I had another surgery with my meniscus, so that was another six months. At the start of the year, I was back into it. It's been a tough couple of years with the injuries, but you can't control those things. I'm feeling fresh now, I'm feeling really good, so hopefully I can put my best foot forward."
Despite the setback, Kuenzle has not given up hope of eventually representing Australia. Asked if the ambition remained, he replied: "100%. You've just got to play good rugby, I guess. Obviously, this is a great club to do that, with the boys around, the amount of Scottish boys in there. Obviously, we're one of the best in the world, as you can tell.
"With the way that Franco's got the boys going, it's quite easy to follow, and it's quite exciting. I'm just focusing on that, and doing the job for Glasgow, and who knows what will happen."
The versatile back has impressed Glasgow's coaching staff during pre-season and is expected to offer competition across several positions.
He will also soon link up with Sione Tuipulotu, having previously faced his new team-mate in Australia. Kuenzle believes Australian rugby made a mistake in allowing Tuipulotu - and Irish international Mack Hansen - to slip away.
"I think I might have done a bit of 20s against him, when he was at the Rebels," Kuenzle said. "To be honest, he was a couple of years ahead of me.
"Obviously, seeing him go over and then go through the roof, it's just a shame that Australian rugby got rid of him, to be fair. Same as Mack Hansen. But Sione is an awesome player, and obviously he hasn't trained yet.
"I'm keen to speak to him and see how he goes about things."