Lock Kane Douglas will be available for Wallabies selection after signing a three-year deal with the Queensland Reds.
Having played under Michael Cheika at the Waratahs in 2014, there is speculation that the 26-year-old will be rushed into the Australian squad for the remainder of the Rugby Championship.
“His return will bolster our tight five stocks and that is a strong objective of ours over the next 18 months”, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika stated.
“Kane will join a very competitive race to the wear the number four and five jerseys within the Wallabies, with Simmons, Skelton, Horwill, Arnold, Carter and Mumm all in the mix”.
Douglas played a vital role in securing the Super Rugby title for the Waratahs in their 2014 campaign, and will no doubt provide valuable minutes for the Wallabies if called upon.
He expressed his desire to return back to his country of birth on the premise that he will be provided with the opportunity to represent Australia at the upcoming Rugby World Cup in England starting on September 18.
This has since been honoured by the Reds.
“We know Kane is aspirational to represent his country again. Following any potential Wallabies duties, we are looking forward to seeing him in our program at Ballymore and wearing a Reds jersey”, Reds head coach Richard Graham stated.
The 202cm, 119kg forward expressed his delight over the signature, with personal circumstances highlighted as a reason he moved to the sunshine state.
“It’s going to be a new challenge for me, but I’m looking forward to it,” Douglas said.
“My family is up that way so I’m sure they’ll be getting out to watch me play a bit more often. I’m looking forward to living in Brisbane”.
Before pulling on an Australian jersey, the lock will be assessed to assure he has amassed suitable game-time.
“We will see how Kane is progressing physically over the next week, before considering him for any game time”, Cheika mentioned.
Douglas has played 14 Tests for the Wallabies since 2012, including matches against the British and Irish Lions.
What do you think Roarers? A good signing for the Reds and Australia?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
ScrumJunkie
Guest
I always thought of him as a giant pussycat before he left, and was shocked Dwyer had such wraps on him. Hope he proves me wrong.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
That's tough. He's probably thinking if only I don't get the horror run of injuries I'll show everyone what a good coach I am. Unfortunately we're all thinking you were lucky to have so many injuries at least you can use it as an excuse back in Japan. Strikes me that the language barrier may also help over there. Seriously, nice bloke but he could turn the AB's into a shambles.
PiratesRugby
Guest
He hasn't played since March and has had back surgery. How little must Chieka think of Luke Jones that he's not even in the radar. Jones must have been in poor form this year.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Very good signing for the Reds and potentially the Wallabies. Can't see how he makes the WC Squad as he played very little football the last 6 months. Certainly adds depth to a postion we are light on in for quality.
Craig P
Guest
I am sure some people think he is a decent guy, but not me. A person with any sense of decency would have done the right thing and left the organization some time ago. If you were as consistently bad at your job; delivered constantly way, way, way, below acceptable results; and were actively destroying an organization and institution that you purported to love, would you stay? Not if you were a decent person
Boomeranga
Guest
I would expect so. I hope they didn't pay out Leinster though.
Boomeranga
Guest
We're already seeing that our up and comers are good enough to draw bigger offers from overseas than the Super teams can pay to keep them. If we limited tops to the most consistently top performing wallabies we'd only have five players worth keeping.
RobC
Roar Guru
I hope so too,re Neviile! ah, Murday has moved. Then lets get Richard Arnold into the cage fight, instead. Maybe Big Kev also before he goes to UK.
Mitch
Guest
Murday signed overseas, which helps to explain the signings of a heaps of locks (4 new ones so far). I hope Neville gets the game time he deserves
Not Bothered
Guest
I think the only coach that will want the job will be a coach that wants to make a name for himself. No known coach will want to go anywhete near it imo.
RobC
Roar Guru
re Reds. Its all about the coach. I would like to see cage fight with Simmons Neville Douglas. Maybe Murday. Just for fun. re WBs. The more the merrier. What the news with Richard Arnold?
Johnny J-Dog
Guest
He did touch the ball. He dropped the kickoff.
Steveg
Guest
Woodsman, your correct. I was responding to Train without Stations comments about Grahams character I should have said "if Reds Management..." not "I hope". Aussie rugby is at its best if all 5 Super teams are strong
Andrew Byrne
Guest
He will settle back into Super Rugby just fine. It's a different sport to European rugby, different weather, different ground under foot and of course different referees interpretations of the laws. Douglas arrived with a big rep earned down south, he wasn't really good enough for Leinster but he might settle back at home and raise his game.
jeznez
Roar Guru
He has freely admitted that he found the change in style and the demands a challenge but was coming to grips with them, then he had a season ending back injury requiring surgery. I've got no idea if he is fit, he'll have to prove both form and fitness through playing. I don't think he'll be raced in to the Wallabies unless he can show he is back up to scratch. Good signing for Qld though, I would have loved him to have come back to the Tahs.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Is recovering from back surgery and Cheika has said he wants to see him play before he'll consider him. Will probably be invited to camp and tested out and asked to prove fitness in the NRC.
Peter Hughes
Guest
Thanks Andrew There's your answer on Douglas hopes imo. If you can't be a huge star in Europe club rugby you're probably not even Super Rugby standard in southern hemisphere.
Peter Hughes
Guest
Great news. Hopefully he hasn't deteriorated too much as a player after his time in Europe clubland. Will certainly take him time to adjust to the extra pace of Super & international Rugby
Don
Roar Rookie
Dave Dennis ran the lineout at the Tahs when Douglas was there. Kane is well down the standings of good lineout operators. Good in scrums and defence and OK with the ball in hand in SR. As you well know pjm...