Ryan Cross extends his stay in France with new short-term deal with Racing Metro 92 – Rugby News
Paris based French professional Rugby Union club, Racing Metro 92, has secured the services of the Australian international centre Ryan Cross to add depth to their squad for their 2011/12 season
campaign.
Racing Metro competes in France's premier Rugby Union competition, called the French Top 14.
The club has confirmed the signing of Cross to a short-term contract in a statement released on Wednesday, October 26. The club is forced to make the move following the depletion of their centre
resources particularly following an injury to the Azzurri’s international backs player Mirco Bergamasco.
Earlier, Bergamasco sustained an injury to his shoulder, which ruled him of the action for a considerable time. Bergamasco’s shoulder injury required surgery for recovery. The operation and
the time required for its subsequent rehabilitation has forced Metro 92 to look to signing a back player for a short-term duration.
Earlier in August this year, Cross signed a short-term deal with the Perpignan to make his debut in the Northern Hemisphere. Perpignan recruited Cross to a short two-month contract as a cover
for their missing centres duo of Maxime Mermoz and David Marty.
The duo was unavailable for the Perpignan in the initial few matches of their domestic and European competition as they were on the national duty. The duo was part of the 2011 Rugby World Cup
runners up, Les Bleus.
The 32-year-old Cross has played six matches for the Perpignan during his short stay at the club. His new short-term deal with the Metro has earned him a title of “medical joker”.
New South Wales born Cross is a dual code player and has vast experience of playing in both National Rugby League and Super Rugby under his belt. He started his professional Rugby League career
with Sydney City Roosters in 1998. He represented Roosters in 143 games until the end of the 2006 season.
At the start of the 2007 season, he made his Super Rugby debut for the Australian Super Rugby franchise, Western Force. He made 24 appearances for Force, before joining the Waratahs. He made
his international debut for the Australian national Rugby union team in 2008. He has played eight international games and has scored four international tries.
Besides Cross, Racing Metro has also inked a deal with the Argentinean international winger, Juan José Imhoff, as cover for their injured winger Benjamin Fall.
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