1
Veteran Wallabies lock Rob Simmons signs contract extension with Rugby Australia
By Online Editors
Wallabies lock Rob Simmons has extended his stay at the NSW Waratahs after signing a two-year extension with Rugby Australia and New South Wales Rugby Union.
Simmons has reinvigorated his career following his move south from Queensland, and enjoyed a rich vein of form during the Waratahs' 2019 Super Rugby campaign.
The 30-year old is now in line to become just the 11th Australian test centurion should he earn six more Wallabies caps.
Simmons said: “It’s been a great move to Sydney, both professionally and personally. My family have really enjoyed it and The Waratahs have been good to me so hopefully I can repay them over the next two years.
“The group is very focused on what they want to achieve and I’m just trying to support Hoops (Michael Hooper) in every way possible so that we can continue to mature as a group.
“The Wallabies have been a big part of my life for nearly a decade now and I’m hugely proud whenever I get the chance to wear the Wallaby jersey. I obviously knew that I had the option to still play for Australia and be based overseas and I had interest from a few clubs but that just wasn’t what I wanted to do,” Simmons said.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said: “Rob has played some of the best rugby of his career for the Waratahs this season. He has been very consistent and very resilient.”
"I still believe there is plenty of growth in Rob’s game and he is primed to show that over the coming months."
The Wallabies will depart for South Africa this weekend for a week-long camp on the Highveld before their test against the Springboks on Saturday July 20 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
In other news:
Trending on RugbyPass
2
All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
3
Suaalii strikes awe as Wallabies lose midfielder
4
Scott Robertson responds about handling errors
5
Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
Go to comments