Rathbone eyes future with Force

[travelling_gerry]

Bret Harris | July 13, 2009


Article from: The Australian

FORMER Wallabies winger Clyde Rathbone may resurrect his Super 14 career with the Western Force.

Rathbone, who will turn 28 later this month, is talking to the Force and several overseas clubs following the Brumbies' decision not to renew his contract.

He must first decide whether he wants to continue to play professional rugby or concentrate on his corporate fitness business, which is based in Canberra. "I haven't made a decision yet," Rathbone said. "I've had a couple of offers from overseas and in Australia. I'm talking to the Force, but it is still early days. I've got to decide whether I want to play. I don't want to retire from the game and then turn on the TV and wish I was still out there.

"People say you just wake up one morning and you know you want to retire. I'm still waiting to wake up with that feeling."

A fully fit Rathbone would be a valuable acquisition for the Force, which has lost Test wingers Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs) and Scott Staniforth (Japan).

If Wallabies outside back Cameron Shepherd plays fullback next year, the Force's senior winger would be Nick Cummins, who will be entering only his third year of Super rugby.

The South Africa-born Rathbone exploded onto the Test scene in 2004, making his international debut against Scotland.

He would have earnt a lot more than 26 Tests caps if his career had not been interrupted by injury. Rathbone was ruled out of the Brumbies' Super 14 campaign midway through the 2007 season with a knee injury and he missed the 2008 series.

After making a comeback this year, Rathbone broke down again with a quad muscle strain during the Brumbies' tour of South Africa midway through the season. He did not play again until the Brumbies' loss to the Chiefs in the last round match in Hamilton.



http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html

[sandgroperrugby]

A fully fit Rathbone would be a valuable acquisition for the Force

This is the area that worries me, he hasn’t been without injury for sooooooo long........Why would the Force look at someone who is going to take up money and be on the injury list for the majority of the season.

[blueandblack]

Harris has been visiting TWF and making up stories from our forum, no doubt.

[jargan83]

Why would the Force look at someone who is going to take up money and be on the injury list for the majority of the season.

A contract (NRL style) which is heavily in favour of match payments?

[James]

Or a get-out clause like the one the Force had with Caleb Brown. I quite like Rathbone and I think if managed well he could make a successful recovery from injury.

[Garfiep]

Why wouldn’t he want to come to the Wallaby making (and reviving in his case) factory that is the Force. A fit Rathbone could be a real asset for us, providing a real toughness out wide, strong defence and pace. A get out clause or pay as you play type contract protects us from the liability and as such I see very little downside.

[hertryk]

Why wouldn’t he want to come to the Wallaby making (and reviving in his case) factory that is the Force. A fit Rathbone could be a real asset for us, providing a real toughness out wide, strong defence and pace. A get out clause or pay as you play type contract protects us from the liability and as such I see very little downside.

For what it's worth I totally agree..

[.X.]

A fit Rathbone would be a perfect replacement for Spanner - the ability to Run Hard and break tackles. I have no problem with him being in Force Blue.

[welshrugbyfan]

Rathbone gets injured because he plays the game so hard and puts his body on the line. I've always enjoyed watching his style, unfortunately it's at his body's expense.

Never forget him getting polaxed against the Pacific Nations a while ago.

[GIGS20]

Not much to add here but Praise, surely the management has learned from the Lachie MacKay deal.

[Burgs]

Stole my words in answer to Sandgropper, Gigs
Love watching Rathbone play, he has "a fine disregard for his personal wellbeing"!
Let's not forget that he is also a handy #13, having repped SA there before heading to Australia, but having limited opportunity because of one of the greatest #13's in Australian Rugby history.
I would be more than happy to have Clyde here, with a performance based contract, and the change may be just what he needed. Can't be good for anyone freezing their arses off for ten months of the year.
And Clyde, there are far more corporate types who need fitness in Perth than the Capital I can assure you!

[brokendown gunfighter]

he turned us down in 2006
make him grovel

[GIGS20]

Can't bend his knees Gunny.

[mudskipper]

This is the area that worries me, he hasn’t been without injury for sooooooo long........Why would the Force look at someone who is going to take up money and be on the injury list for the majority of the season.

This deliberation should also apply to X-rays Andre Pretorius...

---------- Post added at 12:20 ---------- Previous post was at 12:18 ----------

Not much to add here but Praise, surely the management has learned from the Lachie MacKay deal.

Doesn't look like it GIGSY....

However I'm a big Rathbone fan and would like to see more of him in S14 and S15 for the next couple of years...

[jargan83]

Doesn't look like it GIGSY...

not a done deal yet