Young Waratahs rip into action

Friday, January 12, 2007
Rugby Heaven

WARATAH footballers Will Caldwell and Tim Davidson put swimming skills honed in the public pool at Young in rural NSW to their best possible use in high seas this week when the pair rescued a girl as she struggled in a rip.

The two 100kg-plus forwards, who are both from Young and members of the Sydney University rugby club, were also caught in the dangerous rip off Tamarama Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs late on Wednesday afternoon.

But upon realising their own situation, they saw the girl desperately struggling 40 metres to their left and perilously close to the rocks.

Caldwell, who recently broke his arm, was first to reach the stranded swimmer. And as the 198cm, 112kg second-rower quickly reached her side, he immediately held her in the safety position.

Soon after, Davidson, a 101kg and 194cm back-rower, swam across to the pair to help Caldwell as it was clear the girl was starting to panic.

The combination of the rip, the swell and the girl's heightened state made it impossible for the two footballers to swim back to shore with her in tow. So they had no choice but to remain in the rip where they were, doing their best to keep her as calm as possible until lifeguards arrived on a surf ski.

Eventually help arrived and soon all three were back on safe sand: with the girl ever grateful for her life being saved, and the Waratahs duo happy for doing so.

Not that they arrived at training yesterday beating their chests over the incident. Few of the squad knew about the rescue, one of the last being their boss, Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie, who may now prefer they stay on land.

You couldn't blame him, the incident coming at a time when pre-season "restricted training activities" are a talking point in Australian rugby as the Super 14 season nears.

Rupert Guinness