crouching_tiger
New member
25-year-old Dragons forward Jarrod Saffy will switch to union in October
In a massive coup for fledgling rugby union franchise Melbourne Rebels, St George Illawarra enforcer Jarrod Saffy has signed with the new Super 15 team.
The 25-year-old South African-born Saffy has carved out a lucrative three-year rugby union deal that begins in October 2010 at the conclusion of the NRL season.
"I'm not going to lie to you - he's coming," said Rebels CEO Waldron, who also left the NRL for Super 15, switching from his role as Melbourne Storm chief executive officer.
"We sounded him out. We've had genuine interest in him and he's a player of great potential.
"He's a player with a solid rugby background and someone who we think will be a great asset to the Rebels on and off the field.
"We've always said we were interested in NRL players with strong rugby backgrounds and he's a former junior representative.
"I think he's spoken with Wayne (Bennett) and he knows it's just a matter of working out a few things for him internally."
Insider sources suggest Bennett wants reassurance from Saffy that he has the Dragons’ premiership intentions in mind.
Saffy declined to comment on the move, which comes with certain uproar from the rugby league community following prior league to union conversions.
Saffy will be the first forward to switch codes since 2000 when Brisbane Broncos player Peter Ryan shifted to rugby union.
Saffy has represented Australia in the national Sevens team in Hong Kong, where he was teamed with Super 14 stars Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hewat, Richard Brown and Ben Mowen.
He is expected to play No.7 or No.8 for the Rebels.
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Best of luck Jarrod. Hope everything works out well for the big fella. :slight_smile:
In a massive coup for fledgling rugby union franchise Melbourne Rebels, St George Illawarra enforcer Jarrod Saffy has signed with the new Super 15 team.
The 25-year-old South African-born Saffy has carved out a lucrative three-year rugby union deal that begins in October 2010 at the conclusion of the NRL season.
"I'm not going to lie to you - he's coming," said Rebels CEO Waldron, who also left the NRL for Super 15, switching from his role as Melbourne Storm chief executive officer.
"We sounded him out. We've had genuine interest in him and he's a player of great potential.
"He's a player with a solid rugby background and someone who we think will be a great asset to the Rebels on and off the field.
"We've always said we were interested in NRL players with strong rugby backgrounds and he's a former junior representative.
"I think he's spoken with Wayne (Bennett) and he knows it's just a matter of working out a few things for him internally."
Insider sources suggest Bennett wants reassurance from Saffy that he has the Dragons’ premiership intentions in mind.
Saffy declined to comment on the move, which comes with certain uproar from the rugby league community following prior league to union conversions.
Saffy will be the first forward to switch codes since 2000 when Brisbane Broncos player Peter Ryan shifted to rugby union.
Saffy has represented Australia in the national Sevens team in Hong Kong, where he was teamed with Super 14 stars Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hewat, Richard Brown and Ben Mowen.
He is expected to play No.7 or No.8 for the Rebels.
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Best of luck Jarrod. Hope everything works out well for the big fella. :slight_smile:
