The Western Force have bolstered their squad with the addition of talented back Gene Fairbanks on a two year deal.
It is also reported that they are looking to secure the services of Sias Ebersohn of the Cheetahs to replace Andre Pretorius who never played a game for the Franchise before once again being injured.
Additionally it was announced that Ryan Cross has left the Western Force to join the Waratahs for next season’s Super 15 tournament.
It will be an eagerly awaited return to Super rugby for Fairbanks who notched 39 games with the Reds and Brumbies before signing with Honda for the 2009/10 Japanese season.
“A player of Gene’s experience and versatility will be a valuable acquisition for the Western Force,” RugbyWA CEO Vern Reid said.
“He has a strong knowledge of the game, can play a variety of positions in the back line and is a terrific character.
“We’re very happy to have Gene join us for the next two seasons,” said Mr Reid.
Fairbanks made his debut in 2003 for the Queensland Reds before heading to Canberra where he established himself as one of the competitions most courageous players.
After representing Australia at various age levels he was selected in the 2006 Wallabies squad and toured Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Renowned for his defense ferocity, the 27 year old will be a welcome addition to the Force back brigade and is excited by the potential of the playing stocks at the club.
Player Profile
Name: Gene Fairbanks
Height: 174cm
Weight: 84kg
Date of Birth: 08/08/1982
Current Club: Randwick
Super 12/14 Points: 10 (2t)
Super 12/14 Caps: 38 (Brumbies) 1 (Reds)
The Western Force are continuing their search in South Africa for a fly-half to replace André Pretorius and have set their sights on Sias Ebersohn from the Cheetahs after it became clear that their first choice for the position, Peter Grant, had signed a deal to play in Japan.
Ebersohn, 20, has been contracted by the Cheetahs until after this year’s Currie Cup and will play for Free State in a friendly match against the Griffons in Welkom on Saturday.
He was one of the leading scorers for South Africa in the Junior World Championship last year and is competing with the experienced Louis Strydom for the Cheetahs’ No 10 jersey this season.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské confirmed that Ebersohn is contracted until after the Currie Cup.
The West Australian newspaper reports that the Force have already spoken with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) about the possibility of contracting Ebersohn.
He can be contracted as a development player, while the Aussie side are also interested in signing skilful Hurricanes No 10 Willie Ripia.
The Waratahs are a step closer to completing their 2011 Super Rugby roster after securing the signature of international centre Ryan Cross for the first season of the Super 15.
The 18-cap Wallaby has signed with the Waratahs and Australian Rugby Union for one year and is returning to Sydney where his Rugby and professional football careers started.
Head coach Chris Hickey said the acquisition of Cross would add further depth to a backline which took big steps forward in 2010.
Hickey said that Cross would arrive at NSW well aware that he will need to fight hard for a position in a backline which in 2010 delivered the Waratahs its best attacking season in Super Rugby.
Cross said that while he enjoyed his time in Perth he was looking forward to bringing his family back to Sydney with his sights set on helping the Waratahs to a successful season in the first year of the expanded competition.
Cross added that while he missed out on the Wallaby squad for the June Tests, he still has his sights firmly set on Test honours with a view forward to Rugby World Cup 2011.
Cross was a schoolboy Rugby star at Waverley College and played alongside the likes of Phil Waugh, George Smith, Matt Dunning, Adam Freier and David Lyons in the Australian Schoolboys sides of 1996 and 1997.
In 1998 Cross joined the Sydney Roosters NRL club and scored two tries on debut against Manly. He went on to score 85 tries in 143 matches over nine seasons with the club, and topped the club’s tryscoring list in 2003.
In 2004 and 2005 Cross represented City Origin, and when he finished up at the Roosters in 2006 he was the club’s fifth-highest tryscorer of all time.
In 2007 Cross returned to Rugby with the Western Force and represented Australia ‘A’ that season. The following season Cross was named the Western Force Player of the Year and was rewarded with his first Wallaby jersey against France in Sydney.
He has gone on to be capped 18 times at Test level and appeared 49 times for the Force in Super Rugby. This season Cross scored four tries in twelve matches to be the team’s top tryscorer for the year.
Players Profile:
Name: Ryan Cross
Position: Centre
Physical: 191cm, 100kg
Born: 6.10.79, Sydney
School: Waverley College
Club: Eastern Suburbs
State Caps: 49 [Western Force 49]
State Points: 75 [Western Force 75 (15t)]
State Debut: 2007 v Highlanders [Western Force]
Super Rugby Caps: 49 [Western Force 49]
Super Rugby Points: 75 [Western Force 75 (15t)]
Super Rugby Debut: 2007 v Highlanders [Western Force]
Test Caps: 18
Test Points: 25 [5t]
Test Debut: 2008 v France