Thursday’s Rugby News sees a legend getting a fitting farewell, some troubling stories out of Sydney’s west, Rodda back for the Reds and even more Force signings.
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Sir Nick gets a fitting farewell
Starting in Sydney, Sir Nicholas Shehadie was farewelled with a memorable funeral service at St. James Church yesterday.
The legendary Wallaby skipper and former Sydney mayor was a well regarded member of the international rugby community, and of New South Wales in general.
Among the many folks who attended the ceremony included former Prime Ministers Paul Keating, John Howard and Tony Abbott, former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, and of course, former NSW Governor General (and Shehadie’s wife), Marie Bashir. Had Nick still been alive, this week would have marked 61 years of marriage.
Nicholas’s son Michael had many kind words to say of his father, particularly in regards to his rugby career and when he started playing for Randwick at age 15.
“He discovered he was reasonably fast, had good hands and loved training…and it wasn’t long before he was selected for first grade,” he said.
The story of how Nick and Marie first met was even more poetic.
“She was caring for a desperately ill child who had recently been abandoned by family. there were no visitors nor toys for him,” Michael said.
“Our mother was deeply distressed and told Nick the story.
“The next day Mum walked into the ward to find the child’s cot filled with toys. She assumed the family had come back but instead was informed that a ‘good-looking man, a rugby type, had visited the child and brought the toys’.
“Straight away, Mum knew who it was. it was this simple gesture, this act of kindness and compassion that won my mother’s heart.”
His grandson, also named Nick, also had plenty of fond words to say of his grandfather.
“He was always ready to help solve our problems and us grand kids loved it,” he said.
“He had three standard responses: ‘Why would you do that?’, ‘That’s madness, or ‘Fair dinkum’, followed by a roll of the eyes and a shake of the head.”
As the service ended, St. James rung out 91 rings of it’s bell, in symbolism of the age Nick was when he passed. A fitting end to a life well lived.
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Trouble in the Emu Nation
Staying in Sydney, we turn to the ultimate battlers of Australian rugby, the Penrith Emus. Seen as one of the toughest gigs in the sport at the moment, the Sydney Rugby Union began to strongly hint that the Western Sydney club’s days in the Shute Shield are numbered.
The Emus have become a symbol to many as to the state of grassroots in Australia, and for years many have condemned the SRU, NSWRU and Rugby Australia for their lack of support for the club (and clubs in Western Sydney in general).
Now, with only one win in the last four years, the SRU is drawing a line in the sand, telling the Emus to either pick up their game or pack up.
The SRU have allocated the Emus a series of criteria to fulfil. Should they not meet the criteria, the Emus could face expulsion from the Shute Shield as early as May this year. If this were to happen, all of the Emus games would be turned into bye rounds for the other opposition.
The criteria for the Emus includes, according to Sporting News:
· Fielding four grade and three colts sides each weekend;
· Ensure coaching staff is properly accredited;
· Implementing strength and conditioning programs across all grades;
· Engaging meaningfully with the local community
SRU president David Begg confirmed last week that the Emus’ position was under review, but wouldn’t got into details as to the timeline the club has.
“What I will say is Penrith know they are under review and we are hopeful that what they are telling us in terms of improvement in several areas will eventuate,” Begg said.
“Penrith know we have significant expectations for them moving forward and we expect them to meet those expectations.
“We’ve got to take them on their word and we’ve given an undertaking we will support them in the timeframe agreed to.”
However, should the SRU pull the plug, there is no denying that Shute Shield will face considerable backlash.
With the competition enjoying a successful couple of years (with increased crowds, sponsorship and media coverage), the Shield itself has, with it’s increased profile, highlighted the Emus plight and lack of support even more. A removal of the club would only deepen the ever increasing divide at the grassroots level.
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Rodda Returns
With multiple players out to injuries over the last few weeks, the Reds finally have some good news: Izack Rodda has been named in the starting squad to face the Rebels on Friday night.
The Red hasn’t played since October last year, after receiving shoulder surgery.
“I always wanted to be back for round one and we knew it was doable if I just did everything the medical team told me and ticked those boxes,” Rodda said.
“It was pure joy and excitement, knowing I’d been given the all clear to play.
“Throughout rehab, all I could think about was getting my body right, getting as fit and strong as I could and getting back for the start of the season.”
The other big news is the inclusion of Jono Lance, who will start at flyhalf ahead of Hamish Stewart. Eto Nabuli will also be back, and there also will be an awesome debut in the form of Brandon Paenga-Amosa (the try scoring machine for Southern Districts and the Rams in the NRC).
Andrew Ready and Moses Sorovi have also missed the cut in the starting 23. You can check out the Reds squad here.
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Go west, young Sampson!
The signings keep coming thick and fast for the Western Force, with NRC coach Tim Sampson looking set to be announced as the new coach of the WA club.
Sampson coached the Canberra Vikings last year to their second grand final appearance, and while they fell short against the Country boys from Queensland, Sampson’s record looks to have caught the eye of Andrew Forrest.
The Force are looking to play several exhibition matches over the course of this year, beginning during the June Internationals. Several players have already signed for the club, but until now there was no clear indication of when a coach could be signed.
According to the Age, Sampson said he had been approached to take the position but that nothing had been finalised.
It is fair that things are currently so flexible around Sampson’s official announcement, given that the Force are still to line up all of their exhibition matches that will keep fans happy till the NRC.
Several Super Rugby teams are on the cards to play the Force during the June break, including the Crusaders and also the Rebels.
Rebel CEO Brad Stephenson confirmed that they had been contacted by the Force.
“Dave [Wessels] and I have been flat stick and haven’t really had a chance to even discuss that, but there is a conversation happening about the possibility of a game [during the June series],” Stephenson said.
Pacific Island teams like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga are also still under consideration.
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