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EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
50 CAPS FOR CUMMINS
After a week on the sidelines with a quadriceps injury Nick Cummins has returned to training this week and is ready to fight his way back into the side to take on the Lions in his 50th Super Rugby cap this Saturday night at nib Stadium.
24 year old Cummins made his debut for the Western Australian side in 2008 and has been a consistent performer for the club ever since with his hard running and evasive skills on the wing and at outside centre.
He joins an elite list of players to have played 50 games for the club and becomes just the eighth player to do so; an honour he is proud to have achieved.
“50 caps has been a goal of mine since I first started with the Emirates Western Force in 2008 so it’s a big achievement for me and I’m really excited about playing this weekend and putting in my best effort,” said Cummins.
“It’ll be a great experience to lead the team out especially in front of the home crowd. The ‘sea of blue’ is fantastic so I’m really glad I could reach this milestone and share it with them.
“I consider myself to be a loyal person so it’s great to get the 50 games with the one club.
“I’ve really like it here in Perth and it’s where I’d like to finish my career.
“Lifestyle is crucial for me; it’s all about balance and if you put too much of your energy into rugby you can end up burning yourself out so I think it’s important to diversify and I think Perth is a great place to do that with the great lifestyle and a really good bunch of blokes at the Force.”
Cummins debuted in round one of the 2008 season against the Sharks and considers it one of his greatest memories of the last 50 games.
“I remember being really nervous before we ran out and I was standing next to Scott Staniforth and the only thing that came to my mind was the quote “shadows and dust” from Gladiator,” Cummins remembers.
“I turned and said that to Scott and he patted me on the back and said “you’ll be right mate” and we went out there and I think I got player’s player that game so it was awesome.”
Emirates Western Force Defence and Skills Coach Phil Blake said it was something Cummins should be proud of and praised his efforts over the five years he had been with the club.
“Whenever you play 50 Super Rugby games, let alone for one franchise, it’s a great achievement and something the organisation is proud of so we look forward to him playing out there this week against the Lions,” Blake said.
“His game has evolved since I’ve been here the last 18 months and his great attribute is his ability to run directly at the line, breaking that first tackle and getting us over the advantage line which gets us fast ball.”
Nick Cummins
Height: 189cm
Weight: 99kg
DOB: 05/10/1987
Club: University (WA) / Southern Districts (NSW)
FxPro Super Rugby Caps: 49
FxPro Super Rugby Points: 35 (7t)
FxPro Super Rugby Debut: 2008 – Rd1 v Sharks, Durban