Shepherd still available?

[Santwyk]

Looks like his deal with the Saints is off, maybe he is still in play to return?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19148227

[NTT]

Anyone looking to sign Shepherd will be taking a substantial risk given his injury history. His mind is willing, the body not so. Thats part of the reason the Force let him go, a lot of outlay for little return over the last 2 to 3 years in particular. How he would last a European season which is up to 40 games long when he wasn't getting through a 16 game super rugby season was always the part of his Northampton deal I was concerned with because I would like to see him have had a bit luck injury wise to end his career. Maybe Japan might be better for him given the rugby isn't as physically brutal as European or super rugby.

[zed]

Yeah to be honest, I'm surprised Northampton picked him up considering his injuries.

[Sheikh]

Ditto to NTT and Zed. I suspected Saints would had to have had an injury clause in the contract.

Shepherd, when fit and up to game speed, is an awesome player. But he was in a similar position to Nalaga last season - carrying injuries and not getting a long enough injury-free run to build up a resistance to the knocks which you'd usually shrug off.

A pay-as-you-play contract might be OK, but with a restricted squad size it's a big risk to have him in the 30, and if he was to be in the EPS there's no guarantee that he could get on the field when fit - an EPS player needs injuries to others in order to get selected (the situation Cottrell was in last year).

[PerthGirl]

That's a real shame for Cam and his young family. I hope something comes up soon for him, he deserves a bit of luck.

[Ecky]

Northampton Saints revealed on Monday that Wallaby veteran Cameron Shepherd has failed a fitness test and will not now be joining the club.

Full rugby365 article here

[jono]

thought there has to be more to it.

wonder why he failed though. was it injury related? or was he just not willing to be fit enough?

[Happy]

good things happen to good people, something will come up for him and it will be awesome for him and his family!!

[jono]

I hope so happy

[James]

thought there has to be more to it.

wonder why he failed though. was it injury related? or was he just not willing to be fit enough?

Given that it was a wrist injury that caused him to be out, I would guess that he wasn't fit enough by choice. Cam doesn't seem to have been in a crash hot head space for the last few years. He has looked overweight, compared to the first few years, since about 2010. There have been the drink driving issues too. Repeated injuries must be very depressing.

[RugbyFan]

Don't confuse aerobic fitness with "fitness".
The fitness tests he would have gone through would have been mainly medical screening, having to reach certain benchmarks and having previous injuries would not have helped at all. Unfortunately the medical tests have to be done in person, and a player can't be assessed remotely.

[sittingbison]

...he would have gone through would have been mainly medical screening... Unfortunately the medical tests have to be done in person...

hehe


on a serious note, my heart goes out to Cam. He was a terrific player, and a great Force man. I truly hope he manages to get a gig, perhaps in Japan?

[Invictus]

There was mention on another site that Sale might be interested. Fingers crossed!

[UNCLE BOOG]

There was mention on another site that Sale might be interested. Fingers crossed!

yeah, heres hoping.