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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
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