Drew Mitchell goes West!

[Polynesian Warrior]

Channel 10 have reported that Drew Mitchell has agreed to terms with the Western Force for 3 yrs... this is very bad news for the Reds - they will certainly struggle without him next year. The Force seem to get stronger and stronger, next year should be interesting for them!


Mitchell signs with Western Force: Ten
May 4, 2006 - 7:29PM

The Western Force appears set to add another young Wallaby star to its ranks for next season, with Drew Mitchell reportedly agreeing to a three-year deal to move to Perth from Queensland.

Network Ten reports Mitchell has agreed to terms with the Super 14 strugglers, although Mitchell's agent Greg Keenan, who brokered the deal to take Matt Giteau to Western Australia next year, told AAP no deal had been reached.

Mitchell had been weighing up deals from the Force and the ACT Brumbies, while also considering staying in Queensland, and had been given a deadline of Friday to inform the ARU of his decision.

However Queensland had reportedly asked the ARU to extend that deadline until Monday, with the player due to take on the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday afternoon (AEDT).

A spokesman for the Force, whose are currently in Johannesburg preparing for their match against the Cheetahs on Saturday, was also unable to confirm the signing.

A spokesperson for the Reds said neither Mitchell or his agent were confirming the deal.

"Drew is concentrating on tomorrow's game, and other matters will be dealt with in due course," the spokesperson told AAP.

A versatile backline player, 22-year-old Mitchell impressed in his debut season with the national team last year, scoring six tries in his 10 Tests after debuting for the Wallabies against South Africa in Sydney.

With fellow Wallaby Chris Latham ensconced in the fullback role at the struggling Reds, Mitchell rarely got to play in his favoured No.15 jersey.

But with Cameron Shepherd going from strength to strength at the back for the Force, Mitchell would also have a battle on his hands to claim that position at the Force.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport...stern-Force-Ten/2006/05/04/1146335861690.html

 

[Jackal Dog]

The Reds are becoming nothing more than the Force's feeder club!

 

[Thomas]

f**k!!!

Oh well...good luck to him. He hasn't had a great season (then again, who apart from Croft at the Reds has). At least it will open the door for a few more young guys to come through.

 

[aussies1st]

Dam those Force trying to buy a Super title.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Poor old Queensland. Looks like the Force will hand them back the title of Australian Super Rugby whipping boys after only one season.

 

[Stuzmeister]

Yeah the force seem to be trying to buy a title. Oh well it worked for Chelsea.
Go the Warratahs.

 

[Twizzle]

they don't always get away with it


Force stunned by $110K fine
May 5, 2006

THE Australian Rugby Union has shown its dissatisfaction with the Western Force's recruitment methods, fining it $110,000 for breaching contract protocols in trying to lure NSW Waratahs lock Al Kanaar to Perth.

But in a move which will put Australia's newest Super 14 franchise at loggerheads with the country's rugby ruling body, Force bosses immediately said they would appeal the finding, and the level of fine.

After a hearing on Monday, called after the NSW rugby union lodged an official complaint last month, the independent committee found Rugby WA guilty of a breach of contract protocols.

An ARU statement said the committee, chaired by Bruce Hodgkinson SC, had found Rugby WA's methods had breached existing ARU contract protocols.

"The independent committee found that Rugby WA had entered a negotiation process with Kanaar in a way that was contrary to and in breach of the contracting protocols," the ARU said.

Rugby WA chairman Geoff Stooke said the union was "very surprised" at the decision, had notified the ARU they would be appealing, and had sought legal advice.

"If there was a breach it was a technical breach at worst," Stooke told AAP.

"It comes down to what the ARU deem to be negotiations, because really he came over here to have a look at the west; it was a holiday."

The ARU was asked to investigate Force's dealings with Kanaar after he was spotted by an NSWRU official in the background of a television sports bulletin from Perth.

At the time, NSW believed it had already signed up its second rower for several more years, and were waiting on the ARU to finalise the deal, prompting a formal complaint.

However, the Force maintained it never made Kanaar a offer, and had approached the ARU in March for permission to speak to him.

Force CEO Peter O'Meara said the club was initially refused, but were then approached by his agent Greg Keenan a month later to ask if they were still interested.

Kanaar was said to have rejected the deal put to him, and had written to the ARU asking permission to receive an offer from the Force.

Today's fine comes after the furore caused by the multi-million dollar deal to sign Matt Giteau, with the Wallabies centre lured to Perth with corporate sweetener deals taking his salary to a reported $1.5 million a year.

A three-year deal with Queensland Reds back Drew Mitchell, who has been weighing up offers from the Force and the ACT Brumbies is expected to be announced over the weekend.

AAP



http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,19034949-23217,00.html

 

[morri (cWo)]

110k and they didnt get him. waste :lol:

 

[Daza_06]

don't worry im still confident the reds will beat the force nxt season. They have to sign someone, i hope. Maybe Willie Tonga. They have the best young star in the game in Berrick Barnes, a decent coach coming in, great home stadium, the only down side to nxt season is we are always losing our star players. Sailor, Sharpe, Mitchell, and that young winger at the force forgotten his name plus the rest.

 

[lockyno1]

Reds will struggle but if Kefu comes back you never know. Barnes can't do it on his own and if Lloyd Johannson leaves as well it will be even worse for QLD.

 

[Tim Brasher]

Llotd Johansson decision will either make or break the Reds...They cant afford to keep losing promising players to the other three franchises...Nathan Sharpe, Daniel Heenan, Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell and the list goes on. Lloyd is will be a starting wallaby by the world cup and if he goes the Reds, in my opinion will be cellar dwellers for some time.

 

[fieldo]

Who cares about Queensland.....go the Force.....I hope they beat them by 70 next year..

 

[aussies1st]

Reds will struggle but if Kefu comes back you never know. Barnes can't do it on his own and if Lloyd Johannson leaves as well it will be even worse for QLD.

Agreed, if the Reds players seem him leaving then they will be going WTF is going on. But if Johannson wants to better his career a move down to the ACT will do the trick.