Sunday 22 October 2017 13:39, UK
Israel Folau will miss Australia's European tour this autumn including the match against England, live on Sky Sports Action on November 18.
Michael Cheika revealed the 28-year-old has decided to miss the tour and therefore will not play another Test for Australia this year.
Folau has clocked up 63 Test appearances since his 2013 debut and has scored in eight out of the 10 Test matches Australia have had this year.
However, the full-back has decided to take a hiatus from rugby after the Wallabies' match against the Barbarians in Sydney this weekend.
Cheika said: "It's a good time for him to have some time away from the spotlight, just sit down and relax.
"He doesn't get a lot of chance to do that, he's been under the microscope every single day since he's come to rugby.
"I think it'll be a chance for him to get out of that for a moment, rest his body, rest his mind, take a well-earned breather and then get back into it from day one of Super Rugby next year."
Folau, who was emphatic in Australia's first win over New Zealand since August 2015 on Saturday, will miss out on Test matches with England, Wales, Scotland and Japan.
"I do think that will make him a better player and I think it'll make us a better team," Cheika said.
"I've known him since he's come into rugby at the very start in 2013 and he has not had a minute out of the spotlight for one reason or another.
He's still a young man and it's time to have some time on his own and get away from it."
