Wednesday’s rugby news has the Waratahs pre-season matches, Fardy trying to stay a Brumby, Benji’s return and Warran Gatland extending his Wales coaching deal.
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Tahs go country for pre-season
The Waratahs have locked in their three pre-season matches for the 2014 Super Rugby season. The team’s pre-season schedule features matches against the Rebels on the Victorian border at Albury, the Blues at Allianz Stadium and the Highlanders in Newcastle. NSW coach Micheal Cheika saw that the team’s road trip was a good opportunity to strengthen their connection to rural areas, asserting that the NSW country can expect more Waratahs matches in the future.
Cheika also emphasised the importance of these events in building a pool of talent within country NSW. ‘The Waratahs want to get to the juniors and young kids following the games, watching us play and getting excited about possibly playing for the Waratahs in the future and as a state representative team it’s really important that they are doing that,’ he said. [/one_half]
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Marshall set for Sydney return
The Waratahs’ second pre-season match against the Blues will see NRL convert Benji Marshall’s return to Sydney, and it appears that the former West Tigers superstar will feature at fullback as he continues to develop a higher-level understanding of the 15 a-side game. Blues coach Sir John Kirwan is also looking at Marshall for the five-eighth position, but this position could be decided by the health of incumbent starter Chris Noakes.
Only a few months ago Noakes was wondering if he would play again, after a neck injury required surgery where two of Noakes’ vertebrae were fused in August. But with positive signs in his recovery, it appears that Marshall will face strong competition from both Noakes and Counties-Manukau player Baden Kerr. [/one_half]
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Fardy keen to extend ACT deal
Wallabies forward Scott Fardy has expressed strong interest in extending his contract at the Brumbies, citing the coaching duo of Stephen Larkham and Laurie Fisher as a major factor. ‘I’m obviously keen to stay here,’ he said. ‘I’ve got two good coaches I’m happy to play under and that’s what drives my decision.’
Fardy, who was a Wallabies standout playing in 10 of the final 11 Tests of the year, will also be expecting a major payrise though, as he joined the Brumbies for the 2012 season on a extended-player squad deal worth just $40,000. This may be difficult within the ARU’s salary cap, with several high-profile Brumbies off-contract at the end of the year, including Matt Toomua, Christian Lealiifano, Scott Sio, Henry Speight and Jesse Mogg. [/one_half]
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Gatland re-signs as Wales coach
The WRU have announced that Warren Gatland will be the head coach of Wales until at least the 2019 World Cup. The 50 year-old coach also expressed interest in coaching the Lions for a second time when they tour his native New Zealand in 2017 and the WRU have said that they will grant him a sabbatical during this time.
As for the exodus of Welsh talent to French clubs, Gatland is unconcerned. He instead believes that many will return because, apart from the money, medical facilities, strength and conditioning, coaching and season structure are ‘a long way behind what they can get provided here in Wales.’ He also said that he is not concerned by their absence as long as players are negotiating their release clauses for all Wales’ playing and training duties. [/one_half]
