Wallabies stalwarts have been warned against late-year playing sabbaticals with Test coach Robbie Deans revealing Rocky Elsom never recovered from his overseas stint.

Former Wallabies skipper Elsom’s once high-flying career is at the cross-roads after a string of injuries continually kept him on the sidelines over the past three years.

The raw-boned back-rower left for Ireland as one of Australia’s leading players in 2008 and was crowned the European player of 2008-09 after helping Irish club Leinster to the Heineken Cup.

But Deans on Thursday claimed the rigours of back-to-back seasons took their toll on Elsom, who immediately returned to the Test arena in 2009 after being granted a special dispensation by the Australian Rugby Union.

Berrick Barnes and Wycliff Palu are among two seasoned Test players negotiating with the ARU for sabbaticals in Japan after this season so they can earn lucrative contracts but also return for the 2015 World Cup.

With Elsom, 30, only now returning for French club Toulon, Deans admitted it was a big issue for Australian rugby and players didn’t always know what’s best for them.

“There’s back-to-back rugby; there’s things you’ve got to consider,” he said.

“You look at Rocky Elsom’s circumstance. Effectively the board gave him a bit of a licence but it probably bit them in the end.

“It compromised him physically and he never got back to the same level which was a source of frustration for all parties, including Rocky.”

The All Blacks have in the past granted playmaker Dan Carter a sabbatical to play a season in France with Perpignan while skipper Richie McCaw is currently enjoying six months of rest and relaxation to help him carry through to the next World Cup in England.