Western Force secure top New Zealand prop Fairbrother

[travelling_gerry]

EXCLUSIVE: THE Western Force has secured one of its targeted players, with top New Zealand prop Tim Fairbrother signing a two-year contract with the club.

The specialist 119kg tight head from the Hurricanes is rated as the best uncapped prop in NZ and has turned down lucrative European offers to join the Force.

Fairbrother, 27, is a particularly valuable acquisition because he will not take up one of the Force's two import spots, being eligible to play for the Wallabies via Australian grandparents.


He represented NZ at U-19 and U-21 levels but more international honours are the last thing Fairbrother is thinking about for the moment.

"I'm just really excited and looking forward to getting to Perth," he said yesterday.

"My aim is to work hard at training, play as well as I can and if other opportunities come along that will be a bonus."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is known to be interested in Fairbrother, an immensely strong scrummager and perfect replacement to anchor the Force scrum with the departure of another Kiwi, Ben Castle.

"As a tight head prop you pride yourself on your scrummaging, but I've been working on my mobility for the last couple of years," Fairbrother said.

"The Force has a hard working pack and I'm looking forward to having Nathan Sharpe behind me.''
Fairbrother, whose heritage also qualifies him for England, said: "I've been thinking about a move for the last couple of years but I like the set up at the Force, I like the idea of the Force and I like the feeling at the club."

With Fairbrother locked away the Force must now turn its attention to keeping teenager James O'Connor and No.8 Richard Brown.

The club must also step up the hunt for a replacement five-eighth and an experienced hooker.

A five-eighth is essential as it would start the domino effect on O'Connor's signing.

The club is interested in Springboks and Stormers five-eighth Peter Grant as a replacement for Matt Giteau and officials are expected to speak with him and his manager this week when the side flies to Cape Town for the clash against the Stormers.


http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005403,00.html

[KenyaQuin]

Fingers crossed he's actually signed..

[travelling_gerry]

Player BasicsHurricane Number:97
Position:Prop
Height:1.83m
Weight:119kg
Personal BasicsName:Tim Fairbrother
Nickname:Motor
Date of Birth:12/3/1982
Birthplace:Upper Hutt.
Rugby HistoryTim Fairbrother suffered a cruel blow when a shoulder injury forced him to miss almost the entire 2007 Super 14 season with the Hurricanes. Fairbrother dislocated his left shoulder in the opening round of the competition - after undergoing surgery on the same shoulder in 2006.

The hard working tight head prop and particularly strong scrummager has had more than his fair share of injuries and illness which have interrupted a highly promising career since he burst on to the first class scene in 2001 as a 19-year old.

Out of Upper Hutt north of Wellington and a product of the Wellington Rugby Academy, Fairbrother was a New Zealand U16 player in 1998, a two-time New Zealand U19 representative in 2000 and 2001, and he also played a leading role for the New Zealand Colts at both the 2002 and 2003 U21 World Cups.

Fairbrother joined the Hurricanes in 2003 after two seasons with the Vodafone Wellington Lions, making a dozen Super 12 appearances in his first year and starting in the last ten games of the season. He was capped another 11 times in 2004– after starting the season with glandular fever.

Fairbrother brought up 50 caps for the Lions in 2005, but missed the entire 2006 Air New Zealand Cup recovering from shoulder surgery that also curtailed his 2007 Hurricanes season. However he made a successful return playing for Hawke's Bay in the 2007 ANZC and was re-selected in the 2008 Hurricanes team.

He reached 50 caps for the Hurricanes during the 2008 Super 14, in which he appeared 13 times.


Game StatsCareer:2003-present
Points:5 (1 try)

Personal LifeWish:An island of my own
Hobbies:Reading, Exercise
EducationSecondary school:St. Patrick's College, Silverstream
Worst subject:Maths.
Favourite ThingsSong:Glory of Love
Band or Singer:Metallica
Book or Magazine:White Thorn, Bryce Courtenay
Holiday Destination:Scotland
Food:Mum's roast
Sport Team or Individual:Tiger Woods
Rugby FactsEarliest Memory:Frost
Position When Younger:Prop
Most Admired Player:Michael Johnson
Biggest Influence:Fr. Mark Walls, 1st XV Coach
Most Memorable Moment:Debut for Hurricanes against Stormers

[zimeric]

Saweet!!!

[rahrahgirl]

a great signing!

[slomo]

good-good...

[jargan83]

thats heaps good
Posted via Mobile Device

[lara93]

horahhhhh

[Garfiep]

at last we are on the signing offensive!

[mudskipper]

But it gets better for the force... Deans wants Fairbother a in the Wallabies...


Deans wants Hurricane to put wind up All Blacks
David Long | May 3, 2009

http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...982459409.html

WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans is expected to call Hurricanes tighthead prop Tim Fairbrother into the Wallabies for the Tri Nations.

Fairbrother had been granted an early release from his contract with New Zealand and Wellington and he is expected to be in Australia from June 1. He is eligible to play for the Wallabies because the parents of his mother, Robina, are Australian.

He will play for the Force in the Super 14 next year, replacing Ben Castle, who is off to the Newport Gwent Dragons in Wales.

The 27-year-old, 119-kilogram Fairbrother is reaching the peak years for a front-rower and has plumped for Australia and the Force, turning down other lucrative offers from European clubs.

The signing of Fairbrother could bring down the curtain on Matt Dunning's time in Australia.

Dunning has been frustrated that the offer of the Australian Rugby Union is well below what he believes is his value.

The Force had been chasing Dunning but they have settled on Fairbrother, born in New Zealand's Upper Hutt.

The Wellington Rugby Academy graduate has been a regular on the Wellington scene since 2001, playing 68 games for the Lions and 60 for the Hurricanes.

Shoulder surgery forced him to miss the entire 2006 Air New Zealand Cup and the 2007 Super 14.

Deans has a record of identifying talent. The former Crusaders coach masterminded the recruitment of Brad Thorn to the 15-man code from rugby league.

He also played a part in Timana Tahu's switch.

Deans has clearly seen something special in Fairbrother, who represented New Zealand at under-16, under-19 and under-21 levels.

[robyn <3]

Booyah! Nice one Timothy. Welcome to the Ocean Blue

[Cookie]

Cool ...Does that mean we no longer need donut......now we need a good hooker.
Brownie,JOC and Carlos....;

[bunter]

Great to have Tim on board but I gotta ask, where does this leave our locally produced players who are in the Academy or contracted to the Force?
I suspect, sent over to Sydney after the S14 comp and not available for their local club.

Me thinks RugbyWA should have a bunch of transfer forms ready.

[Thequeerone]

Someone was saying he has relies in Perth - a useful addition sorry to see Castle go - damm those Dragons

[sandgroperrugby]

Hopefully he picks up where Castle left off. The Starting Force scrum is no longer a target for opposition teams and quality Props are showing there invaluable worth. Unfortunately after these key players go off our scrum still deteriorates badly.

Great signing awesome news just need 4 more signatures.