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Noticed this on the weekend - thought it might be interesting for anyone thinking that academies and more S14 derbies will do the job for Australian rugby. Of course it is an open question whether he could have learnt what he needed here, but that is a different issue.
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THREE years ago Tom Court was unwanted by Australia's Super 14 teams, but tonight the powerful prop will sit on the reserves bench for Ireland in the Six Nations match with France at Croke Park.
If Court, 28, gets on to the field, it will mark one of the more unusual pathways to Test rugby.
Growing up on 40 hectares near the southeastern Queensland town of Gatton, Court played rugby league as a boy, but his main interest was athletics, particularly the shot put.
An Australian Universities shot put champion for three years, Court tried out unsuccessfully for the Olympic team.
He had bulked up to 140kg and his doctor warned him that his blood pressure level was dangerously high and advised him to take up a more aerobic sport.
He noticed an advertising flyer for the Queensland University rugby team, the Red Heavies, and decided, at 24, that running around a football field would be better for his health. He is now a more streamlined 122kg.
Starting the season in University's sixth-grade side, Court finished it packing down alongside future Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore in the Brisbane first-grade grand final.
After playing off the bench for Queensland A in 2005, Court moved across the Tasman to play for Manawatu in the NPC to gain experience.
When he returned to Brisbane the Reds had already finalised their roster for 2006 and he was only offered an academy contract.
But Court's potential was spotted by Australia's great scrum guru, Alec Evans, who rang him to offer advice and encouragement two days after the Wallabies' scrum was demolished by England at Twickenham in November 2005.
Court had tremendous strength but needed to develop his scrummaging technique and game sense.
He came off the bench for the Reds in the first three games of the 2006 Super 14 series against NSW Waratahs, the Blues and Crusaders. But then his career in Australia came to an abrupt halt.
If Court played a fourth game, the Reds would have been obligated to put him on a full contract, which they were not able to do. They offered him another academy contract, which was worth "next to nothing".
Court, who carries a British passport, accepted an offer from Irish province Ulster.
"I couldn't wait for something to happen in Australia. I needed to play," Court said.
"I'm not sure what would have happened if I had stayed." ....
Rest HERE