Embattled scrumhalf Matt Henjak hopes a successful playing stint in France will convince Australian selectors he still has plenty to offer the Wallabies.
Henjak leaves Canberra today bound for French club Toulon, where he has signed a 12-month contract with an option for a second season.
The 26-year-old, sacked by the Western Force after he punched then-teammate Haig Sare in February, has spent the past two months in Canberra playing for Royals in the John I Dent Cup competition.
He credited his time back in the ACT playing under minimal media spotlight as having rejuvenated his career, which he hopes will one day result in another call-up to the Wallabies.
Henjak, who has represented Australia four times, had his contract with the ARU suspended following his sacking by the Force earlier this year.
It came at a time where a solid Super14 season would have seen him first-choice for the Australian No9 jersey, following the retirement of George Gregan.
Henjak accepted his poor off-field discipline deservedly cost him his chance to play for the Wallabies this year but hoped his future prospects of representation had not been tarnished.
''I'll never say never and ideally the ARU will never say never,'' he said yesterday in regards to a potential Wallabies recall.
''I think every Australian rugby player has the goal to play for Australia and I'm no different, no matter what's happened in my past.
''I haven't turned my back on Australian rugby so maybe in a few years, if form permits, I'll get back up there.''
Henjak signed with Toulon last week in a move he hoped would allow him to return to his best form and give him the best possible chance of playing for the Wallabies again.
For that to happen the former Brumbies scrumhalf would not only need to convince an Australian Super rugby club to sign him, but also the ARU.
Henjak had no doubt he still had a lot to offer Australian rugby in the future, given the chance.
And while many of his family and friends are still in Canberra, he believed heading to France was the only way to resurrect his professional career.
''I knew that if I wanted to play rugby for a living, which I do, I had to go and get out of my comfort zone and when the French offer came up, I thought it was the best thing to do,'' Henjak said.
''Coming back to Canberra after what happened in Perth, being around my family and friends, it was the best thing for me at the time but the best thing now is moving away to get my focus back on a higher level of rugby.''
Henjak will be Toulon's first-choice scrumhalf next season.
Former Brumbies and Wallabies skipper and No9 George Gregan has spent the past two seasons at the club, but last month signed a two-year deal with Japanese club Suntory.
Henjak will have his first training session with Toulon on Tuesday.
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