The tighthead prop extends his contract with the Super Rugby franchise
In a press conference in front of iconic Sir Weary Dunlop statue, the player greets the journos with a huge smile and a spanish “bueno!” that summarises his sentiment toward the announcement of his contract’s extension.
At 28, Weeks does not see this move as his last grasp of Super Rugby, but is more than happy to stay: “I think I have still some more years left in me, but I can see myself finishing (my career) at the club, we got an amazing foundation already laid in the past years, but now there is stability, and that was one of the biggest things that kept me onboard”.
Weeks is realistic about the Rebels’ position in the competition, but also optimistic about the future: “there has been a fair bit disappointment in the past 4 years, but I’m very excited (about the future), there are young guys like Jones and McMahon that have just shone on the international scene, and a lot of youngsters coming back of the NRC, where they have had a taste of success, the excitement is around the club”, he continued.
Weeks has tasted international rugby this year and is looking forward to continue his adventure in the green and gold
“with the upcoming world cup, I just want more, and this is a huge driving motivation and the next step up in my career.”
As a forward he has touched first hand the troubles of the Wallabies’ scrum :
“I think in Australian rugby we don’t value the scrum enough,” Weeks said “spectators don’t see it as an exciting part of the game, but in reality it is one of the biggest parts in international rugby, so we have to pay much more attention on it,” he added, “every front rower in Australia want to improve our reputation in this fundamental, we have worked very hard to do so, but if anyone is going to criticise Australia, they are going for the scrum”.
Laurie Weeks share Wallabies coach Michael Cheika’s opinion that the Australian front rowers are too honest at scrum time: “Absolutely, we are very honest were it comes to sport, but when it comes to scrummaging, everyone who played in Europe will say that it is all about who cheat the best”.
Arrived from the Queensland Reds in 2011 for the inaugural Rebels season, the Sydney born prop is on of the two left foundation members of the club, the most capped Rebels at the club and one of the most loved players from the fan, to the point that he is nicknamed “the people champ”.
