The Melbourne Rebels have added former Wallabies hooker Adam Freier to their playing roster for next year’s entry to the expanded Super 15 rugby competition.
The Rebels announced Freier’s signing on Tuesday, with the 30-year-old deciding to move on after nine seasons with the NSW Waratahs.
“The Rebels have demonstrated great faith in my ability, on and off the field, and that was a massive factor in my decision,” Freier said after also recommitting to Australian Rugby Union for another two years.
“I will be repaying that faith by regaining my Wallaby jumper in their colours, something I have a burning passion for.
“I will continue to give my all to the Waratahs, who have supported me well over the last nine years, especially the last 12 months.”
Freier, who began his Super career at the Brumbies, said Rebels coach Rod Macqueen was a big factor in determining his future.
“It was no accident that Rod formed a great culture at the Brumbies,” he said.
“I was one of the young players that benefited from that culture. To now have the opportunity to help build one, with Rod – well that’s something any player would love to be a part of.
“It’s important to get it right off the field before you can advance on it.
“I am genuinely excited by the roster the Rebels are putting together and I look forward to exciting times in 2011.”
Freier, who has played 99 games for NSW – many as captain of the Waratahs – plus 25 Tests for Australia, joins former Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock as one of the Rebels’ major signings.
“Adam is one of the most respected players in Australian rugby,” Macqueen said.
“He is very highly regarded by his peers. During our discussions with him, we were particularly impressed by his commitment to ensuring the Melbourne Rebels are successful.”
Freier, who has yet to play a game this year due to off-season back surgery, is also the current president of the Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA).
cookie
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Other Reds Fan More specifically how and why Gregan ever got to put a wallabies jersey on ...that and eddie jones obsession with him.
Jameswm
Guest
And what about Burgess? He snipes, tackles and diffuses the high kicks as well as anyone - halfback or otherwise. Sometimes his passing is too slow, but don't forget the other features of his game.
Who Needs Melon
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FYI I believe ALL of the up-and-comers I mentioned made it into the Wallabies. And the reason they made it is the same reason everyone else does: Because they were the BEST. Or, if you like, they were the BEST available at the time. And every single guy that's every pulled on a Wallaby jersey is a champion as far as I'm concerned. Most of us can only dream of doing such a thing so I won't be putting any asterixes anywhere.
Red Rooster
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Jameswm - nice thought but :- Caldwell, Mumm are already on contract, Douglas, Dennis and Mowen have all been announced as re-signed in recent weeks ?Jowitt. Roodt also on 2/3 year deal, ?Thomson Morahan is already on contract at Reds ?Davies Sidey signed a 2 year deal last season to come back from UK Hodgson has been playing at 6/8 anyway so why would he bother leaving when he is making Wallabies from Force The Brumbies will retain all three as Giteau will head o/s after RWC and leave the other two, one of which is playing 12 Agree on Palmer but Rebels too slow off mark
Red Rooster
Guest
I thought they signed Cipriani as the 15 or was this a little porky pie to try and tempt Barnes and/or Halangahu. My info and memory tells me that Mitchell has played most of his rugby at 13 (same as Mortlock who might have to move to 10). I also noticed that Cipriani did not even start for Wasps last weekend and was on the bench - an ominous sign I think a large physiotherapy staff is going to be required, starting in May this year when they inherit some of these players
Red Rooster
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You must be related to him. If he was Cullen reborn then he would start every week with the Brumbies (and not left) and likewise would be ahead of Anesi at the Tahs who is actually doing little each week. Hard to believe two provinces would not have retained him if there were not flaws
JK
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I know he is'nt our greatest ever tighthead, but cmon lay off the "fuse" , he is our most capped
The Other Reds Fan.
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Let's just pray that there are no more up and coming Pat Howards. For players like him, Scott Bowen, Damien Smith, Al Baxter, Luke Burgess and a few others the Wallabies record books should always have an asterix beside their name to explain to future generations how these guys got to pull on a Wallabies jersey. *because there was absolutely no-one else available at the time.
AndyS
Guest
Ah, OK. That would be right then, being his first appearance in the number 2 jersey (as opposed to debut).
Brett McKay
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I think it was Whittaker then, this is back the other week against the Bulls...
AndyS
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Whittaker started and played the first 65min, Charles replaced him for the last 15min. Both did pretty well.
Brett McKay
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Andy, I'm not sure now!!
mudskipper
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Betham is a good size winger fullback... joe's lad.. about 20-ish
Mike G
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Obviously only time will tell GM, but as I mentioned above I think they'll be competitive but not polished enough to make the top half of the comp...With their roster though, I would think somewhere around 10th would be about right. & just because Mcqueen hasn't actually coached a side for a while, don't think he hasn't been involved, remember he was a big part of the ARC Rebels.
King of the Gorganites
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nathan charles certianly does seem the goods. some good picks and go, and his line out throwing was solid. hails from the nroth-west of sydney i believe.
Who Needs Melon
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Jameswm and Bay35Pablo, THOSE are the sort of signings I'm waiting for! For comparison, I've pulled out the list of Brumbies that featured in the Brumbies inaugural season: and categorised them into seasoned campaigners versus up-and-comers... Noriega, Patricio Caputo, Marco McKenzie, Ewen Giffin, David Sweeny, Craig Fenukitau, Ipolito Langford, John Finegan, Owen Gregan, George Knox, David Roff, Joe Vunipola, Elisi Larkham, Stephen Hardy, Mitch Kafer, Rod Ross, John Friend, Adam Williams, Andrew Coker, Troy Robinson, Brett Holbeck, James O’Connor, Liam Didier, Geoff Howard, Patrick Tavalea, Timote Magro, Adam Brown, Paul I can't identify them all (to my shame) but by my count there was a fair chunk of them that were up-and-comers including: Giffin, David Finegan, Owen Gregan, George Roff, Joe Larkham, Stephen Hardy, Mitch Kafer, Rod Robinson, Brett Holbeck, James Howard, Patrick Magro, Adam A LOT of the guys went from being relative unknowns to making their debuts for the WALLABIES in 1996 after showing their skills that year. Peter Betham is one that I'll keep my eye on but how many of the other already-announced Rebels are likely to debut for the Wallabies at the end of the Rebels first season?
AndyS
Guest
Are you sure? Whittaker didn't debut for the Force last weekend, but Nathan Charles did. Borrowed from the Brumbies and certainly looks a likely sort.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
I picked this a while ago. I'm just too lazy to go look for my post when I said it on the Roar. It always made sense for Freir to go. TPN is the No 1 hooker for the Tahs, if not Wallabies. Freier is 30 and they have in Fitzpatrick an U-20s Australian player. So the Tahs would always pick Fitzpatrick over Freier if they had to choose, for the future. Freier was always going to be stuck behind TPN coming back from injury, if not Fitzpatrick. As such, to resuscitate his career, going to the rebels (or Force while about it), made more sense. He gets a starting spot, the Rebels get an international grade hooker. The stockpiling of talent by certain teams, either deliberately or accidentally, has been commented on before. It made no sense for the Tahs to have 3 quality hookers. If Freier had been fit this year, how mad would have it been to have 2 good hookers not starting in S14 wiith 1 on the bench and the other in the Junior tahs - especially with Pek Cowan playing as a makeshift hooker for the Force? I understand at least 1 Brumby player is on loan to the Force to help them out. If Freier had been fit earlier on, surely they would have looked at loaning one of them to the Force to maximise game time? Noting jameswm's comment above, I would be surprised if the tans don't lose at least one of Caldwell, Mumm, Douglas, Jowitt, Dennis, Alcock, Mowen or van Roodt. Waugh and Palu are probably both gone post 2011, so their immediate replacements are Alcock (given Beau Robinson went) and Mowen respectively IMO. You need probably 4-5 blokes to cover the 4, 5 and 6 (and 8 at a stretch), but beyond that we have too many. Caldwell, Douglas and Dennis, along with Mumm and 1 other seem to be it. Although Alcock is in the Junior squad too. If the Brumbies don't lose at least 1 of Toomua (who has re-signed), Lealifano or Fanifo to the Rebels I'll be surprised.
GM
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Dave Harvey is a class act who can score a ton of points, he tried out for the brumbies a couple of seasons ago but wasn't selected. Has been in italy over the off season. Would be surprised if he got picked up though.
GM
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Sorry guys I disagree. They are scraping together a 1st xv, how will they go when injuries hit. I believe they are in for a looong season. Also respect Rod Mcqueen but he hasn't coached for over a decade. The game has changed enormously and he doesn't have an eales or a horan in his team.