Louwrens, Prior set to stay with the Force

[The InnFORCEr]

Nick Taylor
May 28, 2015, 7:40 am


Western Force are on the verge of locking away scrum-halves Ryan Louwrens and Ian Prior.

Louwrens has attracted interest from Eastern States clubs, particularly with the number of scrum-halves likely to leave Super Rugby after this season.

The pair will join former All Black Alby Mathewson as the No.9s for next season at the Force.

Louwrens, 24, burst into Super Rugby last month when he came off the bench against the Chiefs after Prior was sent off.

He has held his starting spot despite Mathewson’s return from an ankle injury and has scored two tries in four games.

Coach Michael Foley credited Mathewson with helping Louwrens move into the match-day squad.

Prior, who has more than 50 Super Rugby appearances, began his career at the Queens-land Reds.

He moved to the ACT Brumbies in 2012 before signing a two-year deal with the Force.

A 2010 Australian under-20 representative, Prior was in the Reds’ 2011 Super Rugby championship-winning team, the ACT side that lost the 2013 Super final to the Chiefs, and started for the Brumbies in their historic 14-12 win over the British and Irish Lions that year.

Equal most-capped Wallaby prop Ben Alexander has resisted the lure of an overseas contract to re-sign with the Australian Rugby Union and the Brumbies until the end of the 2016 season.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...ith-the-force/

[WF2006]

Personally I'd hang on to Louwrens and Mathewson (well we have already signed him anyway) and let go of Prior. Louwrens has really shown something this year and I think can step into the 2nd role. Turner is a likely candidate for the no 3 and it might free up some dollars.

[Herbasimplex]

can we hold on to Mathewson past 2016? he would need to pretend to be Australian wouldn't he to stay and get the welfare.

[jargan83]

can we hold on to Mathewson past 2016? he would need to pretend to be Australian wouldn't he to stay and get the welfare.

That would be up to the ARU. I believe we needed them to rubber stamp him staying beyond his original 2 year deal.

[GIGS20]

can we hold on to Mathewson past 2016? he would need to pretend to be Australian wouldn't he to stay and get the welfare.

as far as the IRB are concerned, he can't pretend to be anything other than a New Zealander. Since Australian Super Rugby contracts have an underlying clause of requiring eligibility for the Wobs, Mathewson will ALWAYS be a marquee.

[chibi]

With Prior and Louwrens in the team, maybe it's time to groom Mathewson for the fly-half position?

[Alison]

Isn't Alby a bit long in the tooth now for grooming?

[The InnFORCEr]

Brumbies have been searching "the world" for a 9 with Nic White heading off and have had no joy and have re-signed the two young fellas they have.

Genia & Phipps will also be off O/S no doubt.

It's good we get these tied up now I would say!

[yungfen]

They have not signed anything yet, so better be careful.
It would be interesting to know who is leaking this information to the press before any contracts have been signed.

[The InnFORCEr]

They have not signed anything yet, so better be careful.
It would be interesting to know who is leaking this information to the press before any contracts have been signed.

I "think" in instances like these (and I'm not saying it is the case) when the media have been told, it is likely to mean the player has signed with club and the paperwork is awaiting "official" ratification by ARU. Not a complicated process when there is no Wallaby Top Up to be negotiated as in the case of Big Dog.

[yungfen]

Ok make sense TIF

[Macattack]

Anybody have any inside info on Benny Mac's situation - he is our top priority for resigning and it is dragging on too long?

[westies man]

Always have inside info,3 years done deal.

[Timbo]

So that is inside info in the sense of how you feel deep down inside?

[Herbasimplex]

Always have inside info,3 years done deal.

So who is the NZ lock we are wanting to sign?