1
Injury-stricken Force swoop for Reds playmaker
By AAP
The Western Force have swept in to sign playmaker Hamish Stewart on a two-year deal and the Queensland Reds insist they aren't angry about it.
The Reds were left fuming last month when the Melbourne Rebels made a play for Stewart.
Queensland claimed they had sealed a binding agreement with Stewart to keep him at the Reds for 2023, and they asked Rugby Australia to investigate the Rebels' bid to sign him.
Melbourne were keen to secure the 24-year-old following the departure of Matt To'omua, but the Force announced on Friday that they have signed Stewart for the next two Super Rugby Pacific seasons.
Stewart's arrival is an important boost for the Force, who were dealt a huge blow last week when five-eighth Reesjan Pasitoa suffered a serious knee injury that will keep him out for most of next season.
The Reds released a statement on Friday saying Stewart's departure was actually a good result for both clubs.
"We have good depth at centre and some salary cap pressure with a large contingent of national players, so this is a good result for all parties," the Reds said.
"The Western Force made the request through the appropriate channels. They had a need with some injuries and departing inside backs."
New Western Force coach Simon Cron, who was Stewart's coach at the Australian Under 20s side, was keen to reunite with his former protege
"We had a few conversations over the last week, around Reesjan's injury and what he wants to achieve in his career," Cron told AAP.
"Hamish knows what he'll get with me. I'm pretty black and white.
"He wants to be the best player he can be. My job is to make him the best player he can be, and get him back into that Wallabies squad."
Stewart, who can also play at inside centre or fullback, hopes he can help propel the Force into the finals.
"Obviously, we want to go to finals so hopefully we get that finals berth and go all the way through to win," Stewart said.
"I'm really looking forward to it and experiencing the Sea of Blue. The comradery of the players with the crowd always adds atmosphere.
"It will be great to reconnect with some of the guys I used to play with at the Reds too. I haven't played with them for a couple of years, so it will be good to relight the candle and put our best foot forward."
- Justin Chadwick
Trending on RugbyPass
2
‘Redefine the future’: India unveils revolutionary Rugby PL
3
Ronan O'Gara eyeing huge Six Nations star for free-falling La Rochelle
4
Israel Folau to make rugby return despite mid-week Lions disappointmen
5
Latest Comments
The Rebels situation is understandably a touchy subject for Geoff Parling but I’m currently listening to a podcast with Mat Rogers who bluntly said “the best thing to happen to Australian rugby union in the last 15 years is the Melbourne Rebels going broke”, citing the better spread of talent across Australian rugby.
Having Skelton in the squad for the Lions series is a must. Yes he’s a 2nd rower who's a lineout lifter instead of a lineout jumper but his mongrel is essential as displayed against Wales in November.
As for the 7-1 bench split, I flip flop between praising Rassie Erasmus and Fabien Galthie for playing to their team’s strengths and being willing to embrace the trade-off that comes with a 7-1 bench composition but also believing World Rugby should stipulate that a bench must have at least 2 specialist backs.
Go to commentsRatings seem hugely generous, they were awful one and all.
Go to comments