A family link has helped deliver Queensland a Super Rugby recruit who looms as more influential than James O’Connor and Karmichael Hunt – former All Blacks flanker Adam Thomson.
Thomson, among the competition’s most dangerous forwards in five seasons as a key man for the Highlanders, will join the Reds for the 2015 season in a major coup for coach Richard Graham.
Graham was alerted to the 29-Test back-rower’s desire to return to top-level rugby by his brother-in-law, Canon Eagles coach Zane Hilton, in early August.
Thomson has starred for the Eagles for the past two seasons of Japan’s Top 12 and Hilton’s quiet word with Graham triggered talks after the Reds finally gave up on their quest to lure another All Blacks flanker in Victor Vito.
With Queensland sorely missing an attacking X-factor in their pack following the losses of Scott Higginbotham and Radike Samo, the athletic 196cm Thomson fits the bill superbly in an otherwise small, hard-working back-row.
“He’s an outstanding signing,” Graham said. “I’m fortunate I know the coach of Canon very well and his form over there has been outstanding – he’s the top try-scorer and one of the most influential foreigners.
“He’s craving the competition of Super Rugby and it’s evident his standards are still high.”
But the Reds will have to be patient as Thomson won’t join them in pre-season training until late January, at the earliest, or after their first-round match against the Brumbies on February 13 if the Eagles make the finals.
Graham is more than prepared to wait as he also sees the 32-year-old, a member of New Zealand’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad, as an intelligent and respected mentor for his young forwards in much the same way Daniel Braid was in 2009 and ’10.
Able to play all three back-row positions, Thomson’s recruitment particularly puts the heat on Ed Quirk and Curtis Browning as he’s pencilled in at blindside flanker to complement poacher Liam Gill and industrious No.8 Jake Schatz.
Queensland have now snaffled three of the biggest off-season recruits – with drawcard outside backs O’Connor and Hunt – to lift them back out of the mire and keep crowd attendances above 30,000.
Consistently one of the Highlanders’ best players in his 68 games, there’s no concerns Thomson won’t show the same passion for the Reds.
“That’s part of his personality,” Graham said. “He was at the heart of the everything that the Highlanders did. A very tough, awkward guy to tackle and very skilful also.
“I think we’ve already got a very good back-row and he brings some real class and quality to it.”
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
Slipper
Clark
Guest
I would take a former All Black over any Australian, good signing
Scrumpoacher
Guest
Guys don't come back from Japan the same or better-they come back worse and a fella that age must be carrying a few injuries. Sure he's got experience but the money is better spent elsewhere.
ChanWee
Guest
@ Red Kev : he could give balance to the bench as he covers the whole 3rd row. and he will bring the MIB experience and mindset - like JakPot did for NSW. a different style and perspective can help a team , at least for a while :) only thing i dont know of is how well he did in japan or how fit he is for super. dont forget that kAino also took a while to get into super rhythm.
ChanWee
Guest
he actually made 2 mistakes. one was staying in NZ for that extra year. had he gone a year before his 3 year contract would end now and he could have returned for 2015 super season. second mistake was to go for a 3 year contract. most guys do 2 year contracts with extension clause. now as his employers have said- he is bound for 3 years to Montpelier !!! had he remained, the 12 position would have been his before MIB went for Fekitoa. he was a good center and a wing, but NZ have wings by the dozen :)
ChanWee
Guest
nope dont think so. his ticket to fame was his versatility - ability to play 6 7 8 . that is why he went to the world cup (where the squad is limited and u cant cover every position with a specialist). also just before he has a super super season and showed great form. however he was a penalty magnet even at super level. is he the same player of 2011 , after a couple of seasons in Japan? left to be seen.
woodart
Guest
dont hold your breath. nz rugby union were burnt with luke mcallister and I dont think they will bother with overseas players. right now rene ranger is making noise about coming home from france and his club owner is playing hard ball. his reget over passing on the jersy for bucks is a wake up call for a lot of players.
44bottles
Roar Guru
Ahh, forgot about Ellison, but isn't Fuglistaller doing the 'stay in a country for 3 years' thingy?
SandBox
Roar Guru
hope so
Tarragon Fields
Roar Rookie
No offense intended toward Adam Thompson, but how will this help Australian rugby? Is this not similar to bringing in Potgeiter? We can see what Potgeiter did for the Waratahs as a player when he was on the field, but did his presence in Australia assist the Wallaby forwards later in the season? By that I mean, did the mongrel rub off him and on to the Waratahs forwards who made it to Wallaby squad? I would say no. Surely we can find some angry big men now that the NRC is here?
JB
Guest
I don't think it will be any worse than last year, QLD were robbed in SA and had a shocking injury toll but until they have a physical pack they will not worry the top teams, there is not one forward that players fear in that pack of kittens.
JB
Guest
He had a couple of what appeared to be good years with the highlanders by sea gulling out wide and scoring tries, then got the All blacks and was found wanting, a less physical version of Higginbotham that needs a pack of really hard workers that can cover for him. Backwards step for QLD, NSW needed physicality so got potgieter, QLD need physicality and they get this guy, very poor recruiting on paper at least
nmpcart
Guest
EG, remember when the Reds brought in Daniel Braid a few years back - he really helped lift the standards and attitude of the younger players and hopefully Thompson will provide the experience to do similar.
Hertryk
Guest
The only reason in my very humble opinion is why Hodgson has been overlooked time and time again is..he's from the West... All I see at the Reds with this year's recruiting must be costing them many $$$$$$$ssss!!!!!
Hoges
Guest
I see where you are coming from but I am sure Quirk, Browning and Schatz will benefit hugely from Thompson being around. Reds had no balance in the backrow last year, with essentially the same skill set from every player....Gill back, Tui and Thompson give some real punch. Good signing - more important than JOC or Hunt. Could be a great signing if he has a Potgeiter type year!
El Gamba
Roar Guru
That's fair though I'd rate Potgieter higher
willy
Guest
Forget about refs and injuries, Richard Graham has no CV when it comes to coaching. The man is an impostor
Combesy
Roar Guru
RK, I would prefer a backrow of Gill, Thompson and Tui. Good combination more rounded then 2014 reds backrow
Hoy
Roar Guru
You mean his coaching match his recruitment?
Clark
Guest
Letting Ellison go was a bad mistake, he was brilliant for the Highlanders and did a great effort to get into AB's contention.