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The Western Force has secured yet another of its emerging ‘generation next’ stars with Nick Cummins signing off a new two-year contract today.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of recent contract extensions for exciting youngsters Sam Wykes, Tom Hockings and Richard Stanford.
21-year-old Cummins is in his second year of Super 14 rugby, winning 14 caps since making his debut against the Sharks in the opening round of the 2008 season.
The speedy back burst onto the international stage with a sizzling two-year stint with the Australian Sevens team, where he was heralded by then-Coach Glen Ella as the best sevens prospect since Matt Giteau.
The winger with the thick shoulder-length mop of curly hair has become a crowd favourite at Subiaco Oval, where he was once again impressive in the WA side’s 39-7 victory over the Reds last Friday night.
RugbyWA General Manager, Rugby, Mitch Hardy, said Cummins’ signing was a top priority for the organisation.
“Nick is a player with enormous potential and that’s been plainly evident with the rapid progress he’s made from his first to second year of professional rugby,” said Hardy.
“When it came to prioritising our contract negotiations, Nick’s name was near the top of the list. He had attracted strong interest from elsewhere but we’re delighted that he has decided to stay with the club for at least a further two seasons.”
A product of St Francis College in Brisbane, Cummins arrived in Perth from the Randwick Club in Sydney and made an immediate impact for the ET Perth Spirit in the 2007 ARC.
He has been a regular fixture in an Emirates Western Force backline laden with Wallaby talent this season, starting five of the team’s seven games on the wing.
Cummins said he was encouraged by the recent retention of some of the team’s young brigade.
“I think with some of the young guys that have signed on recently, the club is certainly heading in the right direction and that was a big factor in my decision to re-sign,” said Cummins.
“It was a rugby and lifestyle decision and while I did have an offer to go elsewhere, I thought the best place for me to develop and have the beach-side lifestyle that I want was here in Perth,” he said.
“I also wanted to show some loyalty to the place. John Mitchell gave me my first opportunity here and I guess I can repay the faith the Force have shown in me.”
FACT FILE
Nick Cummins
Position: Wing
Physical: 189cm, 98kg
Age: 21 (Born 5/10/1987, Port Macquarie, NSW)
Super Caps: 14
Super Points: 0
Super Debut: 2008 v Sharks, Durban
Representative Honours: Australian Sevens 2006-07
http://rugbywa.com.au/news/2009/ewf_.../section/50753
"12 Years aSupporter" starring the #SeaOfBlue
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61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!![]()
Fantastic news!! good on ya Cummins![]()
Be There. Be Heard. Be The Force Behind The Force
hell YEAH!
WOOOOOO Fantastic News!!
Nick deserves a special pat on the 'cullet' a-la Canberra from Mrs Jargs this week.
Fantastic news!
These are the type of key signings that will ensure a successful future for the Club.
Great to know these younger fellas can see through all the bs and know they can be part of something very special in the West and are prepared to stick their hand up and avoid dragging the issue out.
Strangely hasn't made SMH yet...
Now for Brownie and JO'C and I will be happy!
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Thats five young guns locked in for the next two years, already this year.
Cummins, Hockings, Stanford, Hodgson and Wykes.
Great news, that the younger players believe in the future of the franchise.
---------- Post added at 11:24 ---------- Previous post was at 11:20 ----------
Just a quick thought, and playing a bit of devils advocate, all the signings so far have no ARU top ups that I am aware of involved, could there be an outside chance that someone at the "ARU" is making it hard for "our boys" with ARU components to get what they need so that they can try and entice them back East.
Just a thought!
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
Look at that Cullet fly!!!
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Fantastic news!
Tazz- I think you are on the wrong track - The ARU generally only sign up X number of players that are in or likely to be in the Wallabies Squad. As good as these 5 guys there are other guys from the other Super14 teams that would be ahead of the them on the pecking order as far as a Top Up is concerned.
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
I think Tazz is suggesting that we are still waiting for our Wallaby signings rather than these young fellas should be getting top ups Ex.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
great news - all season he has played with pride and passion
Great news. The way he's going, he'll become a "Force Developed" Wallaby before too much time passes.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
Spot on Burgs, as the Young guns did not have or are not yet ready for top ups there was no "delay" in them signing, my concern is that the existing Wallabies with top ups involved like Brown, Mitchell, O Connor, seemed to be dragging out.
I rememeber close to match one WA Rugby making a statement that R Brown was close to signing and they were just busy with the ARU component.
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
Awesome that is a wing and potentially awsome with development Outside Centre covered for the next few years!
Generally speaking you aren’t learning much if your lips are moving!!!