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Bam Bam' Pocock agrees to new Force deal
NICK TAYLOR, The West Australian April 27, 2010, 2:01 pm
WA News / NERSharon Smith © Enlarge photo
Western Force are set to announce that star back rower David Pocock has re-signed with the Super club.
It is understood the 22-year-old Force vice-captain and Wallabies open side flanker has agreed to terms that will take him beyond the 2011 World Cup.
The West Australian revealed in March that Pocock had committed to a club contract.
His manager has been negotiating with the Australian Rugby Union over his Wallabies top-up component.
Pocock, nicknamed 'Bam Bam' by teammates because of his size, was not interested in joining new Super Rugby franchise Melbourne Rebels but had been hunted by the ACT Brumbies as a replacement for retiring Wallaby George Smith.
The news is a massive boost to the Force, who he joined as a teenager.
He made his official debut at 18 years and 20 days against the Sharks in Durban in the 2006 Force foundation season but made headlines in his first game, coming off the bench as a replacement in the Force's first trial against the Cheetahs as a 17-year old.
The Force risked a fine because at the time International Rugby Board rules did not allow a player to take the field in senior rugby until he was 18 years old.
The rules were changed as a result of his appearance.
Pocock, who has 15 Wallabies caps, tore a tendon from a finger in the opening round of this year's Super 14 season and came back only in round eight.
He celebrated his 22nd birthday with a man-of-the match display in the win over the Crusaders on Friday night.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...ew-force-deal/