With the road blocked at home, fringe players forced overseas

[Burgs]

Just part of the fall out.
I feel sorry for Tim, he has had an amazing career at Uni and be a walk up start to a fifth Australian Super Rugby side but now he can't even get a contract.
Good luck with overseas mate

With the road blocked at home, fringe players forced overseas

Peter Kogoy | December 19, 2007

TIM DAVIDSON, foundation captain of the Sydney Fleet in the Australian Rugby Championship, said the decision yesterday to axe the competition will force him to head overseas to chase his dream of playing professionally.
Davidson

"I'm a big fan of club rugby, but I'm not contracted to any Super 14 outfit. It leaves me little choice other than to head overseas," Davidson, 25, said.

"I guess, at my age, I'm at the crossroads of a career, wanting to play professional rugby. I've got one semester of study to complete a commerce degree at Sydney University, then play out the club season with Uni, before I start looking at my playing options overseas.

"My first preference would be join a club in the United Kingdom. There's also France, while I haven't completely ruled out even looking for a club in Japan. I think I've done my dash of ever securing a contract with the Waratahs."

Davidson's comments were echoed by young Sydney Fleet five-eighth Danny Kroll, who also had a dream of playing Super 14 rugby.

"I'm still a bit shocked by the decision," Kroll said.

"I've got no contract with the Waratahs Academy and certainly none with a Super 14 team. I learned a lot in my time with the Fleet. I thought it was a big step up from playing Colts to making grade at Randwick.

"I was on an even bigger learning curve stepping out for the Fleet in the ARC.

"This decision today by the ARU leaves me in a bit of no-man's land. I was going to use my time with the Fleet in year two in the hope of impressing a scout to earn a Super 14 contract."

Kroll said he had little choice other than to go back to the Sydney club rugby competition in the hope of securing a deal for 2009.

[AndyS]

I was under the impression that he asked to be released from the Force because Perth was too far from home - how is he going to go overseas?

[Burgs]

Older, wiser?
I thought it was more that he wasn't in the frame without squad injuries, he never got much of a run here after a couple of below par performances in NZ.
What I have seen of him on the telly for Uni shows he is a far better player than what the Force got out of him.

[Evie]

I just saw him come off the bench for in a game for Leeds Carnegie, playing against Moseley today.

[Burgs]

How'd he go Evie?
I still rate him as a good player overlooked.
The way he played for Uni compared to his form for the Force were poles apart.
Perhaps he will be in the frame for Melbourne.

[Evie]

He went okay, only got about 15 minutes, but as always he looked a good player. He was amazing for Syd Uni and the Aussie Sevens. Its unfortunate he has had to move overseas to try and get a game. Leeds are likely to go back up into the top Division next season, so maybe more opportunites?