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Waratahs secure Emerging Springbok second rower
Mon 31 Aug 2009
Rugby News
The Waratahs have completed their search for a second rower with the signing of former Emerging Springboks lock Hendrik Roodt on a two-year deal.
At 200cm and 121kg, Roodt will be an enforcer in the HSBC Waratahs pack when he joins the squad to commence pre-season training in November.
Australian Super 14 teams are able to contract a developing foreign player who has yet to represent his native country at Test, Sevens or A-team level and could qualify for the Wallabies after three years of consecutive residency, as per IRB regulations.
“We’ve looked long and hard for another lock to strengthen our second row stocks and we believe we’ve found that with Hendrik Roodt,” said Head Coach Chris Hickey. “Will Caldwell, Dean Mumm and Chris Thomson have performed well for us, and Kane Douglas continues to develop. Adding Hendrik into the mix will only serve to strengthen the tight five, particularly at the scrum and lineout.
“As a developing player who has come through the traditional pathways of South African Rugby, we’ve got high hopes that Hendrik may be able to follow in the footsteps of Dan Vickerman and Clyde Rathbone and put himself in contention for national selection once he’s qualified.”
Under the new policy introduced in September 2008, Australian Super 14 teams are also permitted to sign one ‘marquee’ foreigner – an international who can never qualify for Australian selection because of an IRB regulation that limits players to one country representation throughout their careers. Last week the HSBC Waratahs enacted this clause by securing Chiefs flyer and former All Black Sosene Anesi.
Hailing from Lichtenburg in the North West Province, Roodt represented Leopards at the famous Craven Week tournament in 2004 and 2005. In 2005 he went on to be selected for South African Schools in a side which also included Bulls flanker Dewald Potgeiter.
Following his Schools career, Roodt has gone on to represent the Blue Bulls in the Vodacom Cup (2006-2008) and Under 21 Competition (2006-2008). In 2007 Roodt was selected as a member of the Blue Bulls Currie Cup squad at just 19 years of age, going on to form part of the Bulls Super 14 pre-season training squad later that year.
In 2008 Roodt was selected for the victorious Emerging Springboks at the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest, with the side going through the tournament undefeated with victories over Georgia, Italy A and Romania.
Having played fulltime rugby from such a young age, Roodt took time away from the game in 2009 to work as a junior draughtsman for Vhumbanani Projects in Johannesburg, but is now keen to resume a career which was on the rise before taking a break from the sport.
“He’s got the size, he’s got the talent, and being six-foot-six from the high veldt of South Africa he’s definitely got the pedigree to play the role we want him to play for us,” said Hickey. “He’s getting his visa sorted out now, and our physical performance team already has him on a training program in Pretoria so he’ll be able to hit the ground running when the squad assembles in November.”
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
He looks like a lump of a lad.
More like a lump of lard, especially in those poofy "blue" colours the Tahs turn out in.
CHEERLEADERS ROCK!!!
Still waiting for Force to announce emerging South African Hooker
Generally speaking you aren’t learning much if your lips are moving!!!
Is it remotely possible that NSW might develop some home grown talent for a change?
Let's not go down that path. Let's not forget that 65% of all professional Rugby players are from NSW. That includes a rather sizable chunk of the Force squad.
---------- Post added at 19:19 ---------- Previous post was at 19:18 ----------
Nearly all of the other 35% are from QLD.
Mmm. Seems like a waste of talent if they don't. Dunning has played hooker (hasn't done the throwing) for Eastwood. Pek Cowan got some throwing practice in back in 2008 too when the Force were thinking Cowan and Hardy as potential hookers in case of injury but Tai McIsaac couldn't be brought down. It would be great to have a specialist with some experience but that may prove hard. I am still hanging out for Craig Burden though.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
The Force want Dunning
Laura Force Addict v Chook scrabble-off on Facebook: laura & Force Addict 0 | chook 9
Gigsa made me do it
"He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty." – Lao Tzu
If you were capable of playing 1, 2 and 3 you'd go a fair way towards a test spot on the bench at least.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Funny. Try 90% of the Tahs squad being NSW raised and developed. But hey we could always have our player's from the Force and Brumbies back. See how those squads to without them.
Don't think the players would want to go back..especially not the Force ones..don't think they would enjoy being on the losing side with the Tahs as much as they enjoy being on the winning side with the Force.
The Brumbies players probably want to come West rather than returning to NSW![]()
Actual six and a draw, but a fair point nonetheless.