Cam Crawford
In the wake of acquiring Mike Harris and Jonah Placid, the Rebels’ recruiting drive has secured another key talent with Cam Crawford signing for the next two Super Rugby seasons.
The 25-year-old had to make it to Super Rugby the hard way, with a number of injuries preventing him from making a long-awaited debut until the 2012 season.
Playing for the Brumbies, Crawford featured in one Super Rugby game and also against the touring Welsh.
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Moving back to his hometown Sydney for the 2013 season, an extended run in the Waratahs’ side saw Crawford score a phenomenal eight tries in seven Super Rugby appearances, before adding to that tally with another four appearances thus far in 2014.
Particularly sizable for his position, Crawford’s signing strengthens an impressive collection of young outside backs determined to succeed under the continual improvement of head coach Tony McGahan’s rugby program.
McGahan was pleased to announce the signing of Crawford, having pursued him for quite some time.
“We have certainly done our homework on Cam, and have been tracking him for well over 12 months,” McGahan said.
“We recognise what a good player he is, and he was recognised by the Wallaby selectors last year; he would have been involved in some capacity if he didn’t get injured. We talked to a lot of his past coaches and kept coming back to the decision that he would be a great addition to our back three, whether that is at wing or fullback.”
“We’re delighted with the back three game skills he brings to the group, and more importantly the type of person that he is; he’ll really add to what we are doing down here on and off the field.”
Joining a very young backline, Crawford will bring a lot more experience to the group than his 12 Super Rugby games suggest.
“Cam has got some good experience, and we are certainly looking to add different compliments to the young group of backs that we have here,” McGahan explained.
“Cam has been at the Brumbies when they were starting to rebuild their program, and then he went to the Waratahs when they were re-building their program and now we’re in a similar situation; he’ll bring a lot of experience in regards to that.”
“Cam certainly knows a lot of the tell-tale signs of being successful and how that looks and feels, and he’ll be important to the playing group.”
“Cam has a great physicality in what he does, and is able to use this well in contact situations. He has a very good kicking game, is sound underneath the high ball and has an attacking mindset, so he will give us some more threat on the edge and the back field which is really important as we go forward next year.”