Tevita Kuridrani has left the Brumbies to head to Perth to join the Western Force for the 2021 season.
Fresh off winning the Super Rugby AU title on Saturday, the veteran outside centre will link up with the Perth-based franchise for the next domestic rugby season.
Kuridrani has been a Wallabies regular since his debut in 2013 but was a surprise omission from Dave Rennie’s 44-man squad for the 2020 Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship on the back of a season in which he was below his best. Still, at 29 years old he still has plenty of rugby left in him, and produced his best game of Super Rugby AU in the final.
The now-former Brumby is the second major midfield signing the Force have made recently following the two-year deal Kyle Godwin signed with the club last week. They also secured captain Ian Prior last week, and earlier secured the arrival of former Wallabies prop Tom Robertson from the Waratahs
“I’m really excited to be joining the Western Force and being in a new environment,” Kuridrani said.
“I played with Kyle Godwin at the Brumbies, so I’m looking forward to playing alongside him again.”
Force coach Tim Sampson was thrilled to announce Kuridrani’s signature.
“We are delighted to have secured a player of his calibre for next season,” Sampson said.
“Tevita is a class player and has contributed immensely to Australian rugby over the years. I remember watching him when he first came onto the scene as a youngster in Brisbane and suspected then he was a player who was going to go all the way.
“The discussions I have had with Tevita, he is very excited about moving to Perth, knuckling down and starting fresh at a new club.”
Kuridrani scored 28 tries in 135 appearances for the Brumbies after arriving at the Canberra club in 2012, and admitted he was sad to leave the side where he made his name.
“It has been a true honour to play for the Brumbies, a club that gave me a chance to play Super Rugby, and to live out my dreams.”
“Leaving my family in Queensland to come to Canberra was difficult, but I can honestly say it was the best decision I ever made.
“I will cherish the memories I’ve made at this club forever, and I just want to thanks everyone who has made my journey with the Brumbies so special, not least the Canberra community who always made we feel at home here.
“While I’m sad to be leaving the club, I feel the time is right for me in my career to have a fresh challenge and I’m excited for my new opportunity with the Western Force.”
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar paid tribute to his departing centre.
“On behalf of everyone here at the Brumbies, we just want to thank Tevita for everything he’s done at the club over the past nine seasons,” McKellar said.
“He’s been a great servant for the club over the years, all the way to end where he was one of our best against the Reds on Saturday night.
“He did everything in his power to make sure he left the club on a good note, and he’s done that over the years, time and again, stepping up in big moments.
“He’s been a rock for us in that 13 jersey for a long time, his defence and his durability to go with his obvious gifts as a carrier, he’s been a huge part of what the club has achieved during his time here.
“It’s always tough to see a guy who’s contributed so much to the club leave but it’s probably the right time for Tevita to have a fresh start and we wish him all the best for the future.”
jeznez
Roar Guru
Wow. Big news! I bet Michael McDonald would be keen to try and get back and play with him. https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/03/05/super-rugby-waratahs-chiefs-mcdonald
Derm
Roar Guru
It's not often you see players from Ireland heading to Australia but one has been announced and is heading apparently to Perth - Rob Kearney of Leinster, Ireland and an Irish Lion. The most decorated player in Irish Rugby with quite an honours list. He played his last (219th) game for Leinster against Ulster a few weeks ago. Leinster European Rugby Champions Cup (4): 2009, 2011, 2012, 2018 Pro14 (6): 2008, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020 European Challenge Cup (1): 2013 Ireland Six Nations Championship (4): 2009, 2014, 2015, 2018 Grand Slam (2): 2009, 2018 Lions Lions tours (2): 2009 ,2013 Series Wins (1): 2013 Individual European Player of the Year (1): 2012 Leinster Rugby Player of the Year (1): 2012
ScottD
Roar Guru
Really? I am stunned you said that. Our tight five are all being routinely discussed on this site as past their prime and they are largely backed up (apart from a couple of exceptions ) by other players past their prime. That only gets worse in 2021. So that is 7-10 players for a start. Then the backline best 7 lacked penetration all season and some of them are also well past their best and guys like Kahui were one season fill ins. Plus, outside the best 20 there is little depth so the whole squad needs improvement to be able to field a competitive team for a full season. I think bringing in 15 is a minimum.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I’m curious as to who the 15 you think you need to replace so drastically just to break even with the other teams are. And who you have in mind that you need to bring up to standard.
ScottD
Roar Guru
We have about 15 more recruitments to announce to reach the start line.
ScottD
Roar Guru
I also wondered about a few of his selections and game day strategies I confess
ScottD
Roar Guru
Is Jonno Lance leaving?
Paul D
Roar Rookie
To be fair. there were more Super Rugby (or other top flight overseas competition) experienced players in the Force 23 than the Vikings. And significantly more caps.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yeah, we'll see in due course. He's been signed for two more seasons. I think given what he's shown so far and with the number of players that are joining the squad I think that's a very fair amount of time for him to show what he can do with the team.
BillPosters
Roar Rookie
Admittedly my position is more based on my own anxieties as to the significance of the challenges to come rather than Sampson’s performance in 2020. I could be completely wrong (which would be good). However, I just think that Sampson’s lack of experience is a risk that could result in the Force being perpetual cellar dwellers.
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
Hmm, interesting idea David suggesting Kata at 13. He has the size for the position but I do like him on the wing.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I thought the team played with some excellent structure. Am really keen to see what he can do with a strengthened squad. Based on the signings being made he’ll have a stronger group next year. Think things are very exciting over there in the West
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Good things are happening over in WA, things that will reap big big dividends in the future. RA should be thanking Twiggy very very much for doing their work for them.
pm
Roar Rookie
As a WA boy now overseas, I'm happy to hear all that, Forcefan.
ForceFan
Roar Rookie
Totally agree piru....it was a very good win in last year's NRC final against a ACT Vikings team that was mostly Wallabies and SR players.
ForceFan
Roar Rookie
There’s been a lot of feedback via WF circles (mostly players) that the impressions of Internationals such as Greg Holmes and Richard Kahui is that under Hodgson and Sampson, and their no DH policy, the WF has built an organisation that’s worth being part of. Evidently there’s a long list of players in Oz and elsewhere interested in being part of growing the game in WA. You may recall that part of WF contracts is a compulsory 350 hrs/year of community involvement from RugbyRoos up to specialist coaching in Club land and charity work such as delivering meals during Covid lockdowns etc. I’m interested to see what other recruits will follow. 14 players, including 5 home-grown players made their debut to SR this year. In 2021 there’s also the opportunity to be part of the $5M program to introduce rugby to government secondary schools (which has David Pocock as ambassador). There’s a lot to like about what’s happening in the West. (It probably also helps that WF players are still being paid 100% of their contracts.)
Brett McKay
Expert
What are you actually basing that on though, Bill? What could you have possibly have seen in eight games with a hastily thrown together squad to play in an unexpected competition that would lead you to make that conclusion?
I see no reason why he cant be successful as a coach. he's done that already this year with some very good performances from a team facing way to many disadvantages...
I think Nonu played his best rugby from 29-33yo...Plenty of time for TK to be a force yet...
piru
Roar Rookie
I just don’t think Sampson can do that. I think he can, he took a cobbled together squad into a new comp and playing every game away and was competitive in nearly every game. Tevita will be expected to engage with the Perth rugby community as well - it's not just about winning for the Force.