Dan Vickerman back with Australian Rugby Union
Lock Dan Vickerman has announced that he will return to Australian Rugby, signing a three-year contract with the Waratahs.
Vickerman earned 54 caps with the Australian Wallabies, but left to study and play at Cambridge in 2008.
Vickerman has two Rugby World Cups under his belt, and is considered to be a world-class lock.
Vickerman will return to Australian shores and the Union Rugby with Waratahs and is set to appear in the Super 15 next season, and is expected to play for the Wallabies in the upcoming 2011 World Cup of Rugby.
Vickerman’s return to Union ball could not come at a better time, as the Australian side is in desperate need of depth and size in their second row. Recently the Wallabies lack of strength upfront has been exploited by the New Zealand All Blacks in the Tri-Nations Cup.
Wallabies Coach Robbie Deans has mentioned that Vickerman would not immediately given a spot on the squad, who has gone with youth in this year’s tests.
Deans said of Vickerman’s chances of playing for the Wallabies next season, “Dan will have to earn his place, as any player does, but his return to Australia is great news for the game and potentially the Wallabies. Regaining a player of his ranging experience can only have benefits, especially given that he plays in a position where our depth has been tested in recent times. We have some promising young locks emerging but you can’t buy experience and Dan certainly brings that to the table.”
Vickerman left the top echelon of world rugby to study at Cambridge and has said that he does not regret his decision. He also mentioned that he has been in contact with the Australian Rugby Union over the past while, and they have already spoken about where he might fit with the Union next season.
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