Brumbies sign Tomas Cubelli for two seasons

Ethan...I just posted a comment about the SHAME of signing another overseas player - I am with you on this one....the WBs want to have a high quality team but how is that going to be achieved with overseas players...

Stirzy, who is almost 25yo, didnt get much of a chance as he had two WBs in front of him. It wasnt until McGahan took over and the form he built over NRC that he shined in 2015. He may well be the WB 9 in coming years. Cubelli's contribution I reckon will be good for all involved. But as Powell turns 22 next year. Im hoping they give him as much game time as possible. Because I thought he was v good in NRC 2015. I have no doubt he can deliver the same for SR16. Genia for example was 22 when he started running operations for the Reds.

Haha yes they had Phipps!

Personally I would have left if they told me in all seriousness that they rated me below Phipps... Phipps skill set is way below Whiteys...most people in the know realise as White did that regardless of how he performed he was not going to the WC..He has worked the hardest of all halves our the last few years...just doesn't have the power brokers on his side....lucky in hindsight that Genia held up for the WC....

He's a quality player and a good buy for the Brumbies for sure, but it is a shame they have to look overseas considering 9 is a position where we seem to have a lot of talent coming through. The two guys for the Aussie Barbarians had good games and seasons, Gordon for the Stars looked good and I don't think he's signed. while QLD seems to have plethora of talented 9's - Frisby, Tuttle, Sorovi, Gale, have all looked good, and even Smith I think his name was looked good in the short stint earlier in the year - and the Reds will only have 3 of those signed. I remember Perth in the NRC preseason were talking up their fourth choice scrum half (behind Matthewson, Prior and Louwrens) as being excellent. It's not like No 8 where we seem to have a perenial shortage. I wish Cubelli luck, I have nothing against him, it's just a shame with so many quality 9's running around that they had to look overseas. I think the Waratahs only have 1 scrum half signed for next season though (Phipps) so it'll be interesting to see which way they go.

For a couple of years the greatest thing (imo) that led to actual development of Aussie locks, happened to be a man called Potgeiter. I relish players like Cubelli getting a start in Aussie franchises.

Mark, Im sure the info that was relayed to you was an accurate description how White felt after the meeting with the ARU. But they aren't really in the business of saying "We don't want you, get out of our system, and get out of the country". He would have been told he was behind both Genia and Phipps (or whoever) in the pecking order, and therefore wasn't being offered a top up from the ARU. There are only a limited number of ARU contracts, his Brumbies contract would have to suffice. Work hard, keep improving and you never know, this time next year you could be our top 9. As for you highlighting that this happened BEFORE the 2015 season, well I've never met a player agent who waits til the end of the year to start negotiations for an off-contract player in his stable. That would be negligent. Making a call on where a player stands a year out is simply part and parcel of the business for organisations. Sometimes they are made to look silly or dumb as you suggest. But nobody has a crystal ball.

"But being told he “wasn’t wanted” is a little dramatic". Not dramatic EJ, but the exact words from my source, a former Wallaby with connections to the Brumbies. I agree he could have chosen to work harder and have another crack, but he didn't, and that's his choice...but that is beside the point in this discussion. People are criticising the Brumbies for not developing local talent...they are, but neither Dowsett or Powell are ready for the starting No9 at this stage, as was demonstrated this year when White was injured, so they began a search for someone with the experience required. As for it being an tale of the ARU wronging a player, as it occurred BEFORE the commencement of the 2015 season, the evidence is that at least someone had made their minds up before seeing the form from 2015. The ARU would have looked pretty dumb if he had been the form 9 this year, played for the Wallabies at the World Cup, and left for France wouldn't they.

Guessing ARU spends fair portion of its budgeting on genealogy research! The ITM Cup team I follow, last year's premiership champs, semifinalists this year, Taranaki, have two props headed to Australia for Super rugby 2016, both have Australian mothers . : . Angus Ta'avao (Taranaki and Blues, captain NZ Under 20) recruited to Waratahs; Ryan Cocker (Taranaki) signed for Rebels. Cocker rejoins new Rebels assistant coach Leo Crowley, who has also moved across from Taranaki. "Ryan has progressed really well in his three years with Taranaki," Crowley said. Can't blame the players, take the opportunities and money on offer, but as others have said, doesn't do anything for the concept of developing local players

Powell was still doing an apprenticeship before picking up a full time contract with the Brumbies for next season. He also got a full NRC season, he has and will get plenty of opportunities.

Larkham wants an experienced scrumhalf to help with the development of Powell and Dowsett, both of whom he sees as longer term options and I'm sure will still get plenty of game time in the next 2 seasons. Have the Rebels ever had a marquee scrumhalf? I thought Stirzaker was just competing with Phipps then Burgess, and mainly competing against his own injuries.

Geez you've got some mileage out of that White story. As though it is an extraordinary tale of the ARU wronging a player. When it comes to negotiations, players are often told that they may not be in the top 2 or 3 in their position. And hence not worthy of a top up. Some choose to work harder. Others choose to walk away. White chose the latter which is his prerogative. But being told he "wasn't wanted" is a little dramatic. He'd know where he was in the pecking order and would know he could ultimately make the Wallabies no.9 his own with outstanding form, and a changing of the guard. But he looked at other avenues and best of luck to him.

According to Larkham, he has been brought in as an experienced 9 to guide the development of Dowsett and Powell over the next couple of years. The Brumbies only started to look overseas when Nic White was told by the ARU that he wasn't wanted by the Wallabies at the beginning of last season, which is why he decided to head overseas.

Yep does not help for building depth also with NRC where are the opportunities for the up and comers?

Interesting. Cubelli is v good. I do wonder to watch extent it will stymie an Aussie scrummie from reaching potential. Stirzy is an example that comes to mind

But this is the Canberra franchise.

Unfortunately I don't think the Perth and Melbourne teams were ever about building depth immediately, rather about getting the sport into new states.

It has plenty to do with competitiveness.....The talent pool in Australia is not enough considering they will exclusively complete with New Zealand teams for play off spots.... Issues of building for the Wallabies have been cast aside

I scratch my head at Aussie teams signing foreign players in positions that they need to develop depth.

Good for the Brumbies but I can't help but scratch my head at Australian teams signing Argies and Japanese now that they're finally getting their own teams.