Super 14

(Kick-off is GMT)

Friday, March 26:
Cheetahs v Reds (17.10)

Saturday, March 27:
H'canes v Sharks (06.35)
Waratahs v Blues (08.40)
Force v Bulls (11.10)

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Super 14

Friday, March 26:
Highlanders 39-29 Lions
Brumbies 30-23 Chiefs

Saturday, March 20:
Crusaders 46-19 Lions
Highlanders 16-30 Sharks
Force 10-14 Waratahs
Stormers 21-8 Cheetahs

Friday, March 19:
Blues 39-34 Brumbies
Bulls 19-18 Hurricanes

Six Nations

Saturday, March 20:
Wales 33-10 Italy
Ireland 20-23 Scotand
France 12-10 England

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Newsletter

Super 14

Sevens star signs for Waratahs

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:27

On the eve of the IRB Sevens tournament to be staged in Adelaide this weekend, Australian Sevens captain Patrick McCutcheon has signed a Super 14 contract with the Waratahs for the next two seasons.

The 22-year-old McCutcheon has made his name as a Sevens player on the world circuit over the last three years, with his experience and leadership resulting in him being named captain of the 2009/10 Australian squad.

However, the 1.87m, 101kg Sydney University loose forward has always maintained ambitions of playing in the Super 14 and will now have his best opportunity to do so after securing a deal with his home state which will take him through to the end of the 2012 season.

McCutcheon was captain of the 2005 Australian Schoolboy team which included Kurtley Beale, Peter Betham, Quade Cooper, Ben Daley, James Hanson, Christian Lealiifano, Ben Lucas, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Lachie Turner, Brando Va'aulu and Sam Wykes.

In 2006 McCutcheon joined the New South Wales Academy as an 18-year-old and was later selected as vice-captain of the Australian team which went on to win the IRB U19 World Cup.

A member of the Junior Waratahs, McCutcheon found himself on the verge of Super 14 selection in 2008 when he travelled with the Waratahs squad to Dunedin as the 23rd man ahead of their clash with the Highlanders, and was also taken to Christchurch on standby for the Super 14 final. The Sevens skipper said he has used those experiences as a key motivation in striving to make it at the next level.

"I learned a lot going on that trip in 2008 and have always had ambitions to make it in Super 14, particularly with the Waratahs who I have been with since I left school," said McCutcheon.

"Shawn Mackay played Sevens for many years and also made it to the Super 14, so I never lost hope that I'd be able to do the same.

"You spend a lot of time on the road with the Sevens squad, and certainly your game and body adapt to the fitness requirements of the game. That sometimes made it hard when I've come back to play for Sydney Uni or the Junior Tahs, but I feel I've been able to do adapt to both forms of the game and this is a great reward for that.

"My short-term goal at the moment is to finish the season off strongly with the Sevens team, and in particular we're looking for a really strong performance in Adelaide in front of our home fans. We're having our best season in quite a while and knowing I may not get the chance to be back again I'm going to make the most of it."