More pieces of puzzle fall into place for Force
NICK TAYLOR, The West Australian
August 9, 2011, 8:18 am
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The Western Force have finalised their forwards complement for the 2012 Super Rugby season by signing former NSW Waratahs back-rower Lachlan McCaffrey and bringing rookie second-rower Phoenix Battye into the senior squad.
McCaffrey, 21, a 194cm and 108kg No.8 who also plays blindside flanker, made his Super Rugby debut for the Waratahs in 2010 against the Cheetahs.
The former Australian schoolboys representative also played in the 2010 under-20 IRB Junior World Cup squad but then dislocated an ankle and broke both bones in his left leg playing for Eastwood in the Shute Shield finals that left him out of rugby for eight months.
He has signed a two-year deal and takes the spot vacated by Tevita Metuisela who has been cut from the Super squad.
The move west is a big one for McCaffrey who is very close to his big family of nine brothers and one sister and faces the monumental challenge of breaking into the all-Wallabies Force back row.
"At first I was a bit tentative. It's a big move but it seems like a great culture over here," he said.
"They are the best back-rowers in Australia and it's a good opportunity, a good challenge."
Battye joined the Force rookie squad from the Brumbies last season. He was signed to a one-year contract and will battle Nathan Sharpe, Sam Wykes and Toby Lynn for the two second-row spots.
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