Fitzpatrick re-signs with Tahs.

[travelling_gerry]

* Australian under-20s captain Damian Fitzpatrick has rejected an offer from the Western Force to re-sign with NSW Waratahs for two years.
Fitzpatrick would have commanded a starting position at the Force, but he preferred to stay at the Waratahs to develop his game.
His decision is a big setback to the Force, which is anxious to find a replacement for retired Wallabies hooker Tai McIsaac.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html

[Thequeerone]

Doh

[sandgroperrugby]

Bugger!!!

HMMM maybe our new Flyhalf has some connections with some older grizzled South African Hookers who wouldn’t mind a bit of a stint over here!!! Seriously this is a bigger blow than all the rest of the players leaving, good Hookers in Australia don’t grow on trees. Do EWF have a back up plan?

[Burgs]

Bring back JP!

Not sure how you can develop your game more sitting in the bench or in the players box rather than "commanding a starting position", but it will be interesting to watch the respective careers going forward of Fitzpatrick v Whittaker.

[.X.]

Are we allowed 2 marquee players for 2010?

[Burgs]

Same as '09 as far as I know Ex.
If reffering to my post JP wouldn't be a marquee...but he woldn't be able to anyway as the ARU wouldn't allow him as a regular player either.

[.X.]

Thanks Burgs - but wasnt there talk about additional Marquee player?

[mudskipper]

Turn Matt Hodgson into a hooker....

[jargan83]

One Marquee Player who is not eligible to play for Australia and 1 uncapped player who could eventually become eligible for Australia I believe is how it works

[James]

I've heard talk of the Force approaching South Africa's JWC hooker (also incidentally their captain) from 2008. He's obviously not capped and I don't think he has a senior contract with any of the SA sides so maybe they are thinking he will consider playing for the Force. Whether he ends up playing for Australia or not he would still be eligible through the development player. Hmmm.

[AndyS]

Pity - I was looking forward to watching the Fitzpatrick and Whittaker tussling for the starting spot. Would have been good for Tyrell too, as he may have had a decent chance of challenging guys near his age - might be tougher if they now go get an established hooker.

Wonder if it will prompt a rethink on Holmes, or whether they have got someone else in mind?

[Thequeerone]

Just looking at the list of the lads leaving isn't that the real problem - maybes it's the lack of game time for tier 2 players - that there're not willing to spend a year with splinters in their bums and thus won't risk coming or staying in Oz unless there is a guaranteed start or real potential to knock the starter out of the spot - or go aboard to where the money is better and get actual game time.

[.X.]

So - am I right in thinking, at this point in time - Holmes would be considered our number 1 hooker?

[GIGS20]

This is a bugger, we need to sign at least one Hooker who's already capable of playing at this level and do it NOW! Whits will be OK as a bench player, he filled that role capably last year.....He might even survive as a 50-60 minute starter, but he's not an 80 minute man yet.......anybody lower in the pecking order than him, you would expect will be harder pressed to pass the test!

---------- Post added at 13:13 ---------- Previous post was at 13:12 ----------

Holmes has been released hasn't he?