Northern Suburbs RFC
Club News
RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT 2012
Who we will be seeing in the Red and Black next year?
Following on from a successful 2011 season where Norths managed to break into the top six of the Club Championship, Head Coach Scott Fava is delighted to give the Norths supporters and update on retention and recruitment for what is hoped will be an even more successful 2012 campaign.
Newly appointed Director of Rugby Grahame O’Donnell is delighted in the progress the Club has made in the off season.
“It is an exciting phase for the Club gaining so many new players. However, what we are particularly pleased about is our core group of players are back on board for their third consecutive season together.
A number of these players were inexperienced in 2010 but now have a number of top level Club Rugby games under their belt and are still at a relatively young age, “ said Grahame.
SUPER RUGBY
The performances of a number of players in the Shute Shield last term lead to a several individuals being awarded Super Rugby contracts for 2012. Backs Cam Crawford and Zac Holmes were both signed by new Brumbies Coach Jake White, whilst loose head prop Scott Sio is on an EPS (Emerging Player Contract) with the Canberra based side.
Utility back Samu Wara impressed throughout the 2011 season and this didn’t go unnoticed by the Western Force selectors, with Samu joining fellow Shoreman Cameron Shepherd in Perth. Cameron was celebrating last week with the birth of his first son.
The Waratahs will have big shoes to fill with the retirement of Al Baxter, but will have a Norths representative in the squad with Adam Ashley Cooper moving from the Brumbies back home to Sydney. Adam impressed last week for the Wallabies playing at full back against Wales and could wear the number 15 jersey at the SFS next term.
It is with Australia’s newest franchise where Norths has seen the most involvement. The strategic partnership between the Club and Melbourne Rebels continues to grow with a large number of Norths players training with the side. Isaiah Mosese, Cruz Ah- Nau, Nick Seymour, Jordan Smiler, Chris Tuatara, Lachlan Porteous, Tim Duchesne, AJ Gilbert, Ben Matwijow and Liam Windon all participated in the Rebels Satellite Camp at Shore School this month, with potentially five players from the camp to join the full squad in January.
Commenting on the early success of the partnership Scott Fava commented;
“There is a fantastic opportunity for Norths players to gain from the relationship the Club has developed with the Melbourne Rebels. This shows the player group clear pathways from Club Rugby to Super Rugby.”
Of the players mentioned above, a number will be unfamiliar to regular spectators at North Sydney Oval.
Isaiah Mosese was part of the Australian Schoolboys side last year and is an 18 year old full back with incredible talent. Isaiah is involved with the Rebels on an EPS contract in 2012.
Cruz Ah- Nau is a highly rated tight head prop who joins Norths from Western Force. Cruz was an Australian Under 20 rep in 2010 and will add great depth to the prop roster. Another front row recruit is Nick Seymour who joins the Club from Southern Districts.
In the backs, Chris Tuatara switches codes from the West Tigers and will compete in the centres alongside Lachlan Porteous who has transferred from Shute Shield rivals Penrith.
Liam Windon will look to make the full back jersey his own after joining from West Harbour.
NATIONAL ACADEMY
The early feedback from the National Academy is that Norths players are performing exceptionally well.
New recruit Michael Wells was Australian Schoolboys Captain in 2011 and is a number 8 with great promise. Michael joins the side from St Ignatius' College.
Cam Clark was in the same Schoolboys side in 2011 and will also play his first season for the Club. Cam is a full back with blistering pace and has already shone on the sevens circuit, representing Australia at the Commonwealth Youth Games and was recently awarded an Australian Sevens contract for 2012.
Will Miller is another Australian Schoolboy from 2011 who has joined Norths. Will was at Scots College last year and was awarded the prestigious Bronze Boot for his sporting achievements in 2011 which included being a team mate of Cam Clark at the Commonwealth Youth Games. Will is a back row forward who hails from Berry, NSW.
Jack Walters, a teammate of Will’s at Scots last year has also signed on for the Shoremen. Jack is another back row forward and yet another Australian Schoolboys rep in 2011.
Liam Walker is a halfback who joins the Club from Randwick and also wore the gold of Australia at schoolboy level in 2010. Liam is joined by another option in the halves, with outside half Trent Lake making the move to North Sydney from Easts.
Last year’s Reps involved with the National Academy include Bill Meakes and Pete Schuster.
The recruitment for 2012 also focuses on the Colts program, where great progress has been made and more signings will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
“Our Colts program has been revitalised by a big influx of new faces. This will lead to greater competition for positions which has been lacking over the past few seasons, commented O’Donnell.
SEVENS
At this time of year sevens plays a prominent part of the Rugby calendar and Norths has plenty of involvement in the shortened version of the game.
Jessie Parahi is a new recruit from Canberra where he was involved with the Brumbies Academy in 2011. Jessie is returning from a shoulder injury and is involved in the South African leg of the Sevens tour. The previously mentioned Will Miller is on the same tour.
Jordan Smiler, who impressed in the second half of 2011 after joining from Waikato, continues to enhance his profile in Sevens Rugby. Jordan captained Australia on their recent tour of Samoa and will be firmly in the selector’s minds next year.
Blake Murray and Corey Brown have both been in fine form in Australian Sevens events, with both going on to represent Sydney Sevens in Dubai.
OTHER PLAYER NEWS
A player we won’t be seeing until the second half of 2012 will be Steve Evans who has decided to see the world and play some Rugby in New York with New York Athletic Club.
Another long term halfback, James Price will also be leaving Norths, with the Philippines International deciding to further his career in Japan with Kyuden Voltex.
Some good news with Norths Number 9’s is that Dave Hardisty will continue to be involved again in 2012 when Rebels commitments allow.
Last season’s stand out centre Henari Veratau continues to ply his trade overseas where his side Bourgoin are 4th in the French Second Division.
Newly appointed Director of Rugby Grahame O’Donnell is delighted in the progress the Club has made in the off season.
“It is an exciting phase for the Club gaining so many new players. However, what we are particularly pleased about is our core group of players are back on board for their third consecutive season together.
A number of these players were inexperienced in 2010 but now have a number of top level Club Rugby games under their belt and are still at a relatively young age, “ said Grahame.
SUPER RUGBY
The performances of a number of players in the Shute Shield last term lead to a several individuals being awarded Super Rugby contracts for 2012. Backs Cam Crawford and Zac Holmes were both signed by new Brumbies Coach Jake White, whilst loose head prop Scott Sio is on an EPS (Emerging Player Contract) with the Canberra based side.
Utility back Samu Wara impressed throughout the 2011 season and this didn’t go unnoticed by the Western Force selectors, with Samu joining fellow Shoreman Cameron Shepherd in Perth. Cameron was celebrating last week with the birth of his first son.
The Waratahs will have big shoes to fill with the retirement of Al Baxter, but will have a Norths representative in the squad with Adam Ashley Cooper moving from the Brumbies back home to Sydney. Adam impressed last week for the Wallabies playing at full back against Wales and could wear the number 15 jersey at the SFS next term.
It is with Australia’s newest franchise where Norths has seen the most involvement. The strategic partnership between the Club and Melbourne Rebels continues to grow with a large number of Norths players training with the side. Isaiah Mosese, Cruz Ah- Nau, Nick Seymour, Jordan Smiler, Chris Tuatara, Lachlan Porteous, Tim Duchesne, AJ Gilbert, Ben Matwijow and Liam Windon all participated in the Rebels Satellite Camp at Shore School this month, with potentially five players from the camp to join the full squad in January.
Commenting on the early success of the partnership Scott Fava commented;
“There is a fantastic opportunity for Norths players to gain from the relationship the Club has developed with the Melbourne Rebels. This shows the player group clear pathways from Club Rugby to Super Rugby.”
Of the players mentioned above, a number will be unfamiliar to regular spectators at North Sydney Oval.
Isaiah Mosese was part of the Australian Schoolboys side last year and is an 18 year old full back with incredible talent. Isaiah is involved with the Rebels on an EPS contract in 2012.
Cruz Ah- Nau is a highly rated tight head prop who joins Norths from Western Force. Cruz was an Australian Under 20 rep in 2010 and will add great depth to the prop roster. Another front row recruit is Nick Seymour who joins the Club from Southern Districts.
In the backs, Chris Tuatara switches codes from the West Tigers and will compete in the centres alongside Lachlan Porteous who has transferred from Shute Shield rivals Penrith.
Liam Windon will look to make the full back jersey his own after joining from West Harbour.
NATIONAL ACADEMY
The early feedback from the National Academy is that Norths players are performing exceptionally well.
New recruit Michael Wells was Australian Schoolboys Captain in 2011 and is a number 8 with great promise. Michael joins the side from St Ignatius' College.
Cam Clark was in the same Schoolboys side in 2011 and will also play his first season for the Club. Cam is a full back with blistering pace and has already shone on the sevens circuit, representing Australia at the Commonwealth Youth Games and was recently awarded an Australian Sevens contract for 2012.
Will Miller is another Australian Schoolboy from 2011 who has joined Norths. Will was at Scots College last year and was awarded the prestigious Bronze Boot for his sporting achievements in 2011 which included being a team mate of Cam Clark at the Commonwealth Youth Games. Will is a back row forward who hails from Berry, NSW.
Jack Walters, a teammate of Will’s at Scots last year has also signed on for the Shoremen. Jack is another back row forward and yet another Australian Schoolboys rep in 2011.
Liam Walker is a halfback who joins the Club from Randwick and also wore the gold of Australia at schoolboy level in 2010. Liam is joined by another option in the halves, with outside half Trent Lake making the move to North Sydney from Easts.
Last year’s Reps involved with the National Academy include Bill Meakes and Pete Schuster.
The recruitment for 2012 also focuses on the Colts program, where great progress has been made and more signings will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
“Our Colts program has been revitalised by a big influx of new faces. This will lead to greater competition for positions which has been lacking over the past few seasons, commented O’Donnell.
SEVENS
At this time of year sevens plays a prominent part of the Rugby calendar and Norths has plenty of involvement in the shortened version of the game.
Jessie Parahi is a new recruit from Canberra where he was involved with the Brumbies Academy in 2011. Jessie is returning from a shoulder injury and is involved in the South African leg of the Sevens tour. The previously mentioned Will Miller is on the same tour.
Jordan Smiler, who impressed in the second half of 2011 after joining from Waikato, continues to enhance his profile in Sevens Rugby. Jordan captained Australia on their recent tour of Samoa and will be firmly in the selector’s minds next year.
Blake Murray and Corey Brown have both been in fine form in Australian Sevens events, with both going on to represent Sydney Sevens in Dubai.
OTHER PLAYER NEWS
A player we won’t be seeing until the second half of 2012 will be Steve Evans who has decided to see the world and play some Rugby in New York with New York Athletic Club.
Another long term halfback, James Price will also be leaving Norths, with the Philippines International deciding to further his career in Japan with Kyuden Voltex.
Some good news with Norths Number 9’s is that Dave Hardisty will continue to be involved again in 2012 when Rebels commitments allow.
Last season’s stand out centre Henari Veratau continues to ply his trade overseas where his side Bourgoin are 4th in the French Second Division.
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