DASHING Wallamba fullback, Chris Tout, has decided against joining the Old Bar Pirates Rugby League Club and will focus on claiming a hat-trick of titles with the Bulls in this year's Lower Mid North Coast rugby union premiership.
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Tout, 27, trained briefly with the Pirates and although the financial incentive was attractive with a partner in Ashleigh Lamborne and a two-year-old daughter to support, he was eventually won over by rugby union's more harmonious atmosphere.
"I found I enjoyed the union boys' company more, their club spirit," he said.
"Rugby league culture is different, but that's professionalism for you.
"And when Daniel, my brother, joined the Bulls, that settled it."
It is not the first time Tout has been approached to play league, having previously received offers in younger years from both Brisbane and Sydney clubs.
The Bulls begin the defence of their championship on Saturday at home at Nabiac's Aub Ferris Oval against the Wauchope Thunder, the competition's "mystery club" after two demanding seasons in the Upper MNC competition, involvement which went into steep decline as defeats accumulated.
Daniel Sawyer, has been training the Bulls until their new coach is settled in the area after his move from the Central Coast.
