Western Force player revolt rumours continue
Welcome back!
Rumours just won’t seem to leave the Western Force’s coach John Mitchell as rumours of a player revolt out West. Mitchell who was lauded when he took over three years ago at the Force is seemingly on borrowed time as star players like Matt GIteau consider the exit.
Western Force management have denied rumours of a player revolt but the rumours fail to go away which will continue to build pressure on Mitchell.
It is likely that the likelyhood of Mitchell surviving could hang on Matt Giteau and his decision to stay with the Force or consider returning to the Brumbies as may in the Australian Rugby scene are insisting.
Waugh fighting for place on Spring tour
Phil Waugh is under significant pressure to retain his spot on the Wallabies Spring tour in November 2008. Waugh was did not play against the All Blacks in Brisbane started the season regarded as the equal of George Smith but is now clearly down the pecking order after Smith excelled at every opportunity.
Phil Waugh, 28, has been a tireless performer for the Wallabies and Waratahs over the years but his time is looking nigh as a brood of young players emerge to take his place. The Ruck and Maul posed the question only several weeks ago if we have seen the end of Waugh and it seems we may have been on the mark then.
Waugh will struggle to hold his spot with Western Force young gun David Pocock, 20, and Richard Brown, 24, the debutant that had a cracker of a game breathing down his spot. Both players could easily be included in the squad ahead of Waugh and backup George Smith as the Wallabies openside flanker.
THe 33 man squad will be announced soon before the Wallabies go into a series of training camps before the end of season tour.
Fava signs with Waratahs
Scott Fava has been released by the Western Force and has been signed to a vacant squad spot for the NSW Waratahs in the 2009 Super 14 competition.
Fava who previously played for the Brumbies and was the first try scorer for the Western Force when they joined the competition sought an early release to be closer to his family.
Nathan Sharpe denies Force player revolt
Nathan Sharpe today refuted speculation that the Western Force players are at loggerheads with their coach John Mitchell. Sharpe mentioned that the rumours are just that and that they had no validity and that why would he sign a three year contract with the Force if he was unhappy.
Sharpe went on to detail that Force star Matt Giteau has been annoyed with contractual issues that were part of his deal as the third party payments they were negotiated as part of his contract have not been forthcoming. The non-payment of these third party arrangements could well cost them their star player as he main return to the Brumbies in 2010.
Despite Sharpe denying these rumours the rumblings are unlikely to go away anytime soon as John Mitchell has been bagged by previous All Blacks players and staff which is only likely to add more fuel to the fire.
Mitchell causes Western Force player revolt
John Mitchell, the Western Force coach, has a player revolt on his hands as a number of leading players consider exiting the club. The Western Force who started the 2008 Super 14 season strongly struggled as the year went on and this could be put down to some difficulties in the club between players and coach.
Rumours have been circulating for many months of leading players looking to escape the Force after communication with coach John Mitchell having broken down. Star players like Matt Giteau, Nathan Sharpe and Drew Mitchell are hoping to leave the Western Force if Mitchell does not leave first.
The players have reportedly become sick of the coaching style of Mitchell who has also experienced a player revolt at the All Blacks that lead to his sacking after the 2003 World Cup loss ton Australia.
Nathan Sharpe could well return to the Queensland Reds at the end of his contract which Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau have been linked with the Brumbies.
Giteau who left the Brumbies to a million dollar a year contract at the Force is keen to return to his family and his close friendship with Mitchell could well lead Mitchell into the Brumbies hands.
Western Force eye Bismarck du Plessis
The Western Force are already on the lookout for their marquee player in 2009 with Bismarck Du Plessis being identified as a potential first up marquee signing for the Force.
The Western Force are likely to be one of the first Australian sides to sign a foreign based player under the new ARU Foreign Player Policy approval. The Force and Waratahs have arguably the deepest pockets and are in the best position to sign a star player.
Bismarck du Plessis is likely to drop back to the second choice hooker for the Sharks in 2009 as John Smit returns from his French sojurn.
In other Australian Super 14 news, the Brumbies identified that they are less likely to sign a foreign player in 2009 rather focusing their effort on the 2010 season which will allow adequate time to identify a suitable marquee player and a potential foreign star that could one day play for the Wallabies.
ARU approve foreign players in Super 14
The Australian Rugby Union board today approved the inclusion of foriegn players in the Australian Super 14 teams. The new Foreign Player Policy is highly conditional and restricts each Australian Super 14 franchise to a maximum of two overseas based players.
Australian Super 14 teams will be able to sign one marquee foreign player. This marquee player can be an international player but can never qualify for Australian selection due to the IRB regulation restricting each player to only represent one country throughout their career.
Each Super 14 team will also be allowed to recruit a second developing foreign player who has yet to represent his country at international level in tests, sevens or A-team level. This player can then qualify for Australian selection after three years of consecutive residency.
Super 14 teams can also choose to select two developing players instead of one marquee and one developing player. The ARU has imposed the additional restictions of each bid for a foreign player having to be submitted through the ARU and approved prior to the contract proceeding. The ARU has also restricted these foreign players to only a two year contract at any one Super 14 team.
This change opens the door to bringing in players that would draw a high degree of international appeal to the Australian game. Players such as Sebastien Chabal and Shane Williams would have a tremendous following should any Australian team attempt to bring them to their franchise. It is certainly a smart marketing move from the ARU and bodes well for the game.
ARU open door to Overseas Players
The Australian Rugby Union have opened the door for overseas players to join domestic rugby teams such as the Force, Waratahs, Red and Brumbies. This is a major change for the ARU as they aim to keep the game developing in Australia.
At the moment it is still a proposal but is being finalised by the local unions with it to be put to an ARU vote on 5th September. The proposal is one that is likely to proceed as it provides a mouth watering opportunity to splash out and lure some big stars to the Australian Super 14 teams.
The most likely teams to splurge would be the NSW Waratahs and the Western Force who have a strong corporate sector to bankroll the teams. South Africa and the European countries have all embrased foreign players and the standard and appeal of the game in those countries has improved on the interest shown towards overseas based stars.
The introduction of overseas players would also provide some flexibility towards the expansion of the game in Australia should the Super 14 expand and Australia increase to five teams in the future.