Former West Harbour and Waratah A’s centre, Rory Sidey, has found himself facing an enviable problem, after one season with Newport Gwent Dragons in Wales.
Sidey, a 188cms, 100kg centre, played 20 of the 27 games this season and is now contemplating the options of a two or three year contract with the side.
His problem is the Dragons and Wales want to offer him a three year contract, while Rory would prefer a two year deal that would allow him to be free in 2011 when the 5th Australian franchise starts, but is long enough to allow him to qualify to play for Wales.
“It’s going to be a tough decision but I would like to keep my options open in 2011,’ Sidey said at the West Harbour v. Norths game; home on a six to eight week break before the new Northern season starts.
A product of Trinity Grammar at Summer Hill, he played in the Pirate’s Colts and three years in grade, and has been playing next to former Waratah Marc Sterchbina in the Dragons backline in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup.
Of the quality of the Rugby, he says the Heineken Cup is the equivalent to Super 14 games in the southern hemisphere while the Celtic League would be a step down, but above Sydney first grade.
“We played Toulouse, one of the strongest teams in Europe that had virtually the entire French backline plus All Black half Byron Kellaher, in front of about 50,000 fans. It was quite an experience,” he said.
“The Celtic League games, with clubs from Ireland, Wales and Scotland, smallest crowds of around 7,000 to 8,000, although a club like Munster in Ireland will get 30,000. And of course the Welsh are really passionate about their Rugby.”
The one drawback playing in Europe, he says, is the heavy, wet grounds that are quite common, particularly in Britain.
“A lot different to fast dry grounds we get to play on here but the money is pretty good, around Super 14 level, so there are compensations,” he added.
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