Rebels 2013
- Thread starter James Buchanan
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KevinO
Geoff Shaw (53)
Saffy gets back on track
SIX months ago, Melbourne Rebels loose-forward Jarrod Saffy was looking at the end to his career after a training accident left him with a serious neck injury.
But Saffy underwent surgery late last month on a bulging disc and is hopeful of returning to full training with the squad by Christmas.
Saffy was injured when he was accidentally struck during a training drill in April by an armguard worn by teammate Adam Byrnes.
He opted for a conservative approach to his treatment and spent several months on the sidelines to see if the disc could repair itself. But when that did not happen, the decision was made to have surgery and the 27-year-old was now optimistic about his future. ''I can start running next week when we start [pre-season] training,'' Saffy said. ''Prior to having it [surgery] done, I was faced with this being potentially career-ending, [so] where I was then to where I am now is a huge turnaround. It's a huge relief.''
Saffy said he was not worried about potential risks.
''At the end of the day you've got to realise it's a high-contact sport and everyone carries that risk of ending up in a wheelchair,'' he said.
''That's a very small, harsh reality but that's the risk you take to do something you love.
''It's not ever going to be completely risk-free, if you've never had disc problems you've still got that risk of a bad tackle, so you assume those risks when you play the game anyway, [although] you obviously don't want to play at a heightened risk.''
Saffy said he held no bitterness towards Byrnes, despite initially considering taking legal action against him if he had been forced to end his career. ''I don't think you can carry things around with you … you'd spend your whole life not getting over things,'' he said.
''It is what it is. It was an unfortunate incident or situation. I don't think it was a personal thing. Adam and I have never had any issues so I know it wasn't a personal thing.''
Saffy said the time on the sidelines had allowed him to explore other parts of his life, such as concentrating on his commerce degree, doing work experience with a city-based financial services company and helping in the Melbourne Rebels' marketing department.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/saffy-gets-back-on-track-20121009-27baf.html#ixzz28rFDttR9
SIX months ago, Melbourne Rebels loose-forward Jarrod Saffy was looking at the end to his career after a training accident left him with a serious neck injury.
But Saffy underwent surgery late last month on a bulging disc and is hopeful of returning to full training with the squad by Christmas.
Saffy was injured when he was accidentally struck during a training drill in April by an armguard worn by teammate Adam Byrnes.
He opted for a conservative approach to his treatment and spent several months on the sidelines to see if the disc could repair itself. But when that did not happen, the decision was made to have surgery and the 27-year-old was now optimistic about his future. ''I can start running next week when we start [pre-season] training,'' Saffy said. ''Prior to having it [surgery] done, I was faced with this being potentially career-ending, [so] where I was then to where I am now is a huge turnaround. It's a huge relief.''
Saffy said he was not worried about potential risks.
''At the end of the day you've got to realise it's a high-contact sport and everyone carries that risk of ending up in a wheelchair,'' he said.
''That's a very small, harsh reality but that's the risk you take to do something you love.
''It's not ever going to be completely risk-free, if you've never had disc problems you've still got that risk of a bad tackle, so you assume those risks when you play the game anyway, [although] you obviously don't want to play at a heightened risk.''
Saffy said he held no bitterness towards Byrnes, despite initially considering taking legal action against him if he had been forced to end his career. ''I don't think you can carry things around with you … you'd spend your whole life not getting over things,'' he said.
''It is what it is. It was an unfortunate incident or situation. I don't think it was a personal thing. Adam and I have never had any issues so I know it wasn't a personal thing.''
Saffy said the time on the sidelines had allowed him to explore other parts of his life, such as concentrating on his commerce degree, doing work experience with a city-based financial services company and helping in the Melbourne Rebels' marketing department.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/saffy-gets-back-on-track-20121009-27baf.html#ixzz28rFDttR9
KevinO
Geoff Shaw (53)
Stirling Mortlock joins Melbourne Rebels in off-field role
FORMER Wallaby and Melbourne Rebels captain Stirling Mortlock will join the Super Rugby club's coaching staff.
The Rebels confirmed today that Mortlock, who retired at the end of last season, will be part of the coaching panel under head coach Damien Hill.
He will also have an active role in the club's commercial team.
Three other former Wallabies and Rebels players - Adam Freier, Sam Cordingley and Al Campbell - have also taken backroom jobs with the club.
Freier becomes general manager of communications and media, Cordingley will be involved in the club's recruitment, while Campbell will be part of the Rebels' player mentoring program.
FORMER Wallaby and Melbourne Rebels captain Stirling Mortlock will join the Super Rugby club's coaching staff.
The Rebels confirmed today that Mortlock, who retired at the end of last season, will be part of the coaching panel under head coach Damien Hill.
He will also have an active role in the club's commercial team.
Three other former Wallabies and Rebels players - Adam Freier, Sam Cordingley and Al Campbell - have also taken backroom jobs with the club.
Freier becomes general manager of communications and media, Cordingley will be involved in the club's recruitment, while Campbell will be part of the Rebels' player mentoring program.
jermano
Ted Fahey (11)
From the sound of things, this should be your signature.
I vote all Rebel posts should end in this!
Dumbledore
Dick Tooth (41)
I like seeing old players come back like this. Suggests to me that there is a genuinely strong club culture, it's a franchise that players want to be involved in and want to stay involved in. They're using them in sensible capacities as well, not just throwaway jobs for the boys type roles.
T
TOCC
Guest
Well that is one way of looking at it, another way is seeing this type of hiring as 'jobs for the boys' and ultimately creating a quasi boys club.. I think Mortlock and Freir are both great guys, were they the best people for the job.. perhaps
kronic
John Solomon (38)
An ITM Cup prop apparently.
stoff
Trevor Allan (34)
I think this comment rings true if we were talking about one of the established sides. 15 of the 35 guys on the extended roster are new this year which is a massive turnover, especially given it is not even two years since the inaugral squad came together. Retention of highly respected guys who have established and held up the culture of the club is important during what are still the early days of the franchise. I think one of the best things about Stirlo's position is that it seems to uphold the 5 Star Pledge, by being about more than just on field rugby performance. Would bringing in people from outside the club to fill the positions have been better when the club is looking to as seemlessly as possible manage a massive turnover of players?
James Buchanan
Trevor Allan (34)
Lets be realistic. The 'backroom jobs' were always part of the deal with the older players to lure them down and provide some older heads when starting up the franchise. It provides them with security for the transition period between playing and non-playing careers.
That being said, all of the players mentioned are men of exceptional character from every indication that I have seen and the club is lucky to have them.
That being said, all of the players mentioned are men of exceptional character from every indication that I have seen and the club is lucky to have them.
T
TOCC
Guest
I agree that they are suitable for the job, and no doubt it was part of the lure to get them down to Melbourne...
It will serve the game well to have these two in those roles
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
That was the best game of Sevens I've seen him play; he is on the improve in that discipline of our sport.
He didn't have such a great IRB U/20 tournament but crikey, he's still only 18, and he was hardly the Lone Ranger in the Oz U/20 team not to shine.
On the Rugby Club Mick O'Connor, the Oz Sevens coach, said something like: the Oz Sevens players have to choose between playing Super Rugby or Sevens from now on. Mention was made that Matt Lucas was playing his last tournament because he is with the Tahs in 2013; yet he is only in the EPS group. [As to why Lucas and Morahan were allowed to play at the Gold Coast: I can only suppose that it was because it was the home tournament and at a particular time of the year.]
Will Allan F be persuaded to make a long term decision of committing to Sevens at such a young age? That sounds unreasonable; more likely the Sevens players will have to commit for a year which means that they can't play for a Super team in that time. Then the Sevens people will hope they can hold onto the best of them until the next Olympics are over.
One hopes that when the Sevens schedule ends at London on 12th May 2013 they will be able to play Grade rugby to keep their XVs skills up - and maybe even between Las Vegas and Hong Kong, and between Tokyo and Glasgow when there is a 4 or 6 week break. One trusts also that in the new regime of Sevens speciality that the youngest players will be permitted to play in the annual IRB U/20s tournament which is held between the Sevens seasons.
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He didn't have such a great IRB U/20 tournament but crikey, he's still only 18, and he was hardly the Lone Ranger in the Oz U/20 team not to shine.
On the Rugby Club Mick O'Connor, the Oz Sevens coach, said something like: the Oz Sevens players have to choose between playing Super Rugby or Sevens from now on. Mention was made that Matt Lucas was playing his last tournament because he is with the Tahs in 2013; yet he is only in the EPS group. [As to why Lucas and Morahan were allowed to play at the Gold Coast: I can only suppose that it was because it was the home tournament and at a particular time of the year.]
Will Allan F be persuaded to make a long term decision of committing to Sevens at such a young age? That sounds unreasonable; more likely the Sevens players will have to commit for a year which means that they can't play for a Super team in that time. Then the Sevens people will hope they can hold onto the best of them until the next Olympics are over.
One hopes that when the Sevens schedule ends at London on 12th May 2013 they will be able to play Grade rugby to keep their XVs skills up - and maybe even between Las Vegas and Hong Kong, and between Tokyo and Glasgow when there is a 4 or 6 week break. One trusts also that in the new regime of Sevens speciality that the youngest players will be permitted to play in the annual IRB U/20s tournament which is held between the Sevens seasons.
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en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
I would be very surprised if Woodward regularly started. I think he'll be on the bench most weeks (he covers 10, 11/14, 15) but he won't start and thus he won't be the first choice kicker.
Plus, trys scored in a landslide victory don't tell you too much.
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