Rebels recruit Higginbotham

[TRF_Cymro]

Australia back-rower Scott Higginbotham has agreed to join the Melbourne Rebels from the Queensland Reds.

http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2012/rugby/story/164228.html​

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I haven't watched too many of the Reds' games this year but TBH I was more impressed with both Robinson and Gill and think a hard-working loosie would stand the Rebels in better stead and help with the consistency which is lacking. Good signing none the less.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That's another great signing for the Rebels, theyre getting stronger and stronger.

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[TRF_Cymro]

Good signing to replace Delve.

 

[big ginger 8]

The Rebels are recruiting surprisingly well.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Keep thinning out the other Aussie franchises... Great job! This way no Aussie team will make it far in the play offs the next couple of years.

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[Cave Dweller]

Well Genia and Cooper do not have small salaries. Then there is the salary caps

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Higginbotham moving from Brisbane to Melbourne is the start of conspiracy theories in Australia. He agreed to terms with the Reds last week predicated on what they thought the ARU would offer Higginbotham to top up the salary. When that turned out to be less than expected, Higginbotham started talks with the Rebels, who have deeper pockets at the moment.

What fans are claiming now, is that ARU is actually moving players to Melbourne by giving less money to players, making them eager to sign bigger contracts, which can be done in Melbourne.

Interesting to see how this unfolds.

 

[Draggs]

Rebels don't have a salary cap, do they?

 

[cyRil]

Regardless of politics, this is a cracking signing for the Rebels. They're in desperate need of establishing a tough pack.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Yes, but Higgs is going to be the replacement of Delve, so this doesn't add to the forward-pack. They need to add forwards, not just replace them

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Of course it adds, you lose a good number 8 and you replace him with another good 8.

 

[welshglory]

I think he means there still isn't any depth in the squad.

 

[cyRil]

When did I say it added anything? I said it was a cracking signing and they're in desperate need of establishing a tough pack. Everything I said was legitimate. And it does add, because before they signed him they were still going to lose Delve, so now they have one more quality back-row option which adds to their depth - go have a snooze =/

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Not a goos signing IMO. Rebels forwards lack defense, they would have done better hiring someone like McCalman, for instance. He would sell less t-shirts though, but probably they could have afforded two defensive loosies for the price of Higgers.

 

[TRF_heineken]

My guess is that the Reds are going to use Sam Lane to lure a bunch of young prospective South African players who won't get the chance in SA to come over to the Reds for a very crappy salary and breed them like David Pocock...

 

[madflyhalf]

I think a very small bunch... as Aussie teams (but the Rebels, because of their partially-private ownership) have only 2 slots available for foreign players.

For the Reds one is Micheal Harris, so a "bunch of young South Africans" at this moment means one.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

It's limited to one "marquee player", but the rebels were given extra spots for the first years. Their foreign-player quota diminishes by two each year, hence Delve leaving.

 

[Cave Dweller]

Rebels don't have a salary cap, do they?

The Reds have one.

 

[Cave Dweller]

I think a very small bunch... as Aussie teams (but the Rebels, because of their partially-private ownership) have only 2 slots available for foreign players.

For the Reds one is Micheal Harris, so a "bunch of young South Africans" at this moment means one.

Do you know Australia have a open policy about stealing talent? They always have a place open for a promising youngster to tie him to a 2 year contract and make him eligible for the Wallabies *cough*Rathbone*cough*cough*