Brumbies to sign super-boot Nick Jooste
Brumbies to sign super-boot Nick Jooste to Super Rugby contract while 18-year-old is still at school
JAMIE PANDARAM
The Daily Telegraph
September 29, 2015 3:39PM
TEENAGE super-boot Nick Jooste is set to be snapped up by the Brumbies, becoming just the sixth player in history to be signed on a full-time Super Rugby contract while still at school.
Jooste would join Wallabies Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, James O’Connor, Luke Jones and Chris Feauai-Sautia on the list of Australian schoolboy signings.
While most talented youngsters are blooded through academy systems, the tall and lanky five-eighth Jooste would go straight into the full-time training squad, receiving tutelage from Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham.
The 18-year-old from Perth, who kicks goals from 60 metres out, received interest from franchises in Australia and South Africa — where his father was born — but it’s understood he will settle on Canberra as his destination next year.
Brumbies chief executive Michael Jones said while his club is in negotiations with Jooste a deal has not yet been finalised.
Jooste shot to prominence last month when a video of his incredible goal-kicking skills was posted online.
He is officially Australia’s biggest boot in either rugby code, already kicking goals from further out than noted kickers Pat Richards in the NRL and Nic White, who ironically has left the Brumbies to play in France.
The Daily Telegraph tracked Jooste down shortly after the video went viral, and he said he’d been blown away by the sudden interest from various Super Rugby teams.
“It’s all come out of nowhere, I’m really flattered and excited,” Jooste said.
“It would be amazing to play Super Rugby one day, but at the moment I’m taking it week by week.”
“We’ll just have to see how I go in the NRC and if I perform then hopefully I’ll get opportunities.”
Jooste is playing for Perth Spirit in the NRC, but the Western Force have missed out on his signature. However the Force are also looking at other talented young playmakers who are emerging from Perth and within the Force academy.
It’s believed Jooste’s management company Player’s Ink will sign an agreement with the Brumbies for an extended playing squad spot for 2016 and 2017, although they would not confirm any details.
Jooste’s monster boot could be a deadly weapon at Super Rugby level in years to come, given Australia has traditionally struggled to produce front-line goal-kickers who can knock them over from halfway and beyond.
Jooste will have two Wallabies in front of him for the Brumbies’ five-eighth position — Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano — but could conceivably play Super Rugby in 2016 if there were injuries.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/su...-1227549269675
Could only be worse if he was going to the Tahs.
I wonder if we actually had a go at signing him before the Brumbies made an offer??
