I Really enjoyed watching him in Global Rapid Rugby
https://i.imgur.com/DqiAJ69.jpg
Grrrr. More to come..
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I Really enjoyed watching him in Global Rapid Rugby
https://i.imgur.com/DqiAJ69.jpg
Grrrr. More to come..
That sux
The text:
Three signings bolster Melbourne Rebels’ playmaking ranks
WAYNE SMITH
SENIOR SPORT WRITER
SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
The mainstay of the Western Force’s Global Rapid Rugby and National Rugby Championship sides, five-eighth Andrew Deegan, has signed for Melbourne Rebels for next season.
The 24-year-old from Sydney is one of three prize signings, with former Force No 9 Ryan Louwrens returning from the Kintetsu Liners in Japan to once again join forces with Rebels coach Dave Wessels — his previous coach in Perth — while James Tuttle, who was let go by the Reds at the end of this season after rupturing his achilles tendon late in 2018, will provide tough competition for him for the halfback role.
Wessels is a favourite son in Perth where he performed wonders for the Force as coach of their Super Rugby side in their final year, 2017, but he might find himself a little less popular after signing Deegan, who has been the star of Andrew Forrest’s GRR team.
Still, the former Australian schoolboys and Australian under-20 five-eighth looks a born playmaker and was even discussed as a possible inclusion in the Wallabies squad this season.
With Australia’s three most experienced No 10s — Bernard Foley, Christian Lealiifano and Quade Cooper — all heading overseas next year, Deegan has timed his run into Super Rugby to perfection. He has, however, had a taste of football at this level with two matches for Connaught in 2017-18.
Tuttle looked to be settling in for a long stint at the Reds, battling with Moses Sorovi for the No 9 jersey, before suffering the achilles injury just before the NRC final against the Fijian Drua. In his absence, Tate McDermott stormed through to grab the Queensland position, while Sorovi now is battling with new Samoan World Cup halfback Scott Malolua.
Tuttle was a conspicuous omission when the Reds released their final squad last week for the 2020 season and it hardly comes as a surprise that the Rebels would snap him up as they *attempt to replace Will Genia (Kintetsu) and Michael Ruru (Bayonne).
Louwrens, who played 19 games for the Force in Super Rugby, was one of the players most affected by their culling.
The South African-born halfback was squeezed out by Ruru in the stampede to the Melbourne Rebels and was forced to head for Japan. Now, at the age of 28, he will be looking to make up for lost time in Victoria.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...6b8a1d8a953d8e
Can we get a "back for the NRC next year" clause in his contract please?
Well that’s really wrecked my day. Oh well and so the feeding line continues.
Western Australia. The State that develops players for the Rebels even though it gets - and has always got - a tiny fraction of what Victoria gets from the ARU/RA.
Decisions next year - do they keep Jack McGregor at full-back, where he has excelled, or move him to 10, which he was originally when they signed him?
I'm not surprised that Deegan's been signed by one of the SR sides, though. He's a quality player and was never going to play at the highest level whilst playing for us; despite whatever the RA says, no GRR player will get a Wallaby cap - they want the best players to be playing in their comp.
Whether that is true or not in the long term, it was always going to be the case in the short term. We'll see what we see in time, but for the moment can only wish the lad well.
It is a shame there is no proper structure to the NRC though; it will be galling to see him run out for Melbourne next year. But that said, a proper structure probably would have had him playing for one of the NSW teams while with us anyway.
Sorry to be the bearer of more bad news but it looks like Tizzano is joining McDonald at the Tahs
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/0...donald-tizzano
I think for next year McGregor will stay at fullback, Alatimu will start at flyhalf and Jooste will probably on the bench to cover 10/12. We also have ex Brisbane city flyhalf Jake Strachan in our NRC squad so interested to see what he can do and if he would be a good potential signing for next year.
As a specialist open side flanker, Tizzano is going to spend a lot of time warming the bench at best for the Tahs while Michael Hooper is playing, while Carlo was getting a lot of playing time at the Force. I can understand why Mcdonald is going, because he would have been stuck on the bench behind Prior and Fines at the Force.