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Tahs add two more to roster

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:40

The Waratahs have taken another step towards completing their 2011 Super Rugby roster with the signing of Australian Sevens star Brackin Karauria-Henry and scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin on two-year contracts.

After joining the Brumbies Academy this season, a spate of injuries saw Karauria-Henry make his Super 14 debut off the bench in front of a crowd of 40,271 at ANZ Stadium. The following week he earned his first run-on cap against the Reds in Canberra.

However, it is on the Sevens circuit where he has made his biggest name this year after developing into one of Australia's most influential players. Karauria-Henry finished the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series with 30 tries to be Australia's leading try-scorer and the sixth-highest try-scorer overall. His 150 points also placed him as Australia's second-highest point-scorer, and inside the top 15 overall.

"This time last year I was in a cast with a broken hand and didn't quite know what was next in terms of footy, so to be signing a Super Rugby contract 12 months later is really exciting," said Karauria-Henry. "I really enjoyed my time in Canberra, but this is a fantastic opportunity to come back to Sydney where I've lived now for four or five years and push for a spot in the Waratahs side.

"There's obviously a strong backline here at NSW so it will be hard work, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge."

Having finished the IRB Sevens series with the Australian team in Scotland two weeks ago, Karauria-Henry is now turning his attention back to the 15-man game and attempting to win a long-awaited premiership with Southern Districts.

"I owe a lot to Souths," said Karauria-Henry. "They gave me a chance after I broke my hand last year, and from that the opportunities with the Brumbies, the Sevens team and the Waratahs have followed.

"The guys have been doing a great job to be undefeated after nine weeks so hopefully I can be a part of a successful campaign as we go into the back end of the season."

Karuaria-Henry is a product of Christchurch Boys High School, however he came to Australia to pursue a rugby league career after being brought to Sydney by the Cronulla Sharks. He was a member of Endeavour Sports High's Arrive Alive Cup winning team of 2006, however despite progressing through the junior rep system at Cronulla, he decided to cross codes in 2009.

After originally signing with Randwick, Karauria-Henry suffered a broken hand and when he returned mid-season it was with Southern Districts. His form in the back end of the Shute Shield caught the eye of those in Canberra who took him into the Runners squad, while he also gained the interest of Australian Sevens selectors.

Having being required for the Brumbies Super 14 team in the back end of the competition as well as the final two legs of the IRB Sevens in May, Karauria-Henry is yet to make his mark on

* The Waratahs bolstered their scrumhalf stocks ahead of the expanded Super Rugby competition with McKibbin signing a two-year deal which will keep the Scottish-born No.9 at NSW until 2012.

McKibbin joined the Junior Waratahs in 2010 and after impressing throughout the trials and 'A' Program, the former Queensland Red has continued his strong form with Eastern Suburbs in the Shute Shield.

After making his Super 14 debut in 2009 but failing to push his way into the Waratahs match day squad this season, McKibbin has his sights firmly set on making his mark in 2011.

"If I didn't genuinely believe I could get the Waratahs No.9 jersey here then I wouldn't have stayed," said McKibbin. "I've really enjoyed the change of lifestyle since coming to Sydney, but as a footballer you want to be playing at the highest level and I still believe my best chance of doing that is by remaining with the Waratahs.

"It's a very strong environment here in terms of challenging each other to achieve the best they can and I'd like to think I'm still improving as a footballer. If I continue to do that here then hopefully I'll be knocking on the door for a spot once next season comes around."

A former Queensland U16 and U20 flank, McKibbin made the switch to scrumhalf when he joined the Reds Academy in 2006 and the following year was selected in the Ballymore Tornadoes for the Australian Rugby Championship.

In 2008 McKibbin was the top point-scorer in the Brisbane club Rugby competition and was also the runaway winner in the Alec Evans Medal for the competition's best and fairest player. Following the season McKibbin was selected on the Reds Development Tour of Europe and then took up the opportunity of a short stint with Saracens in England.

McKibbin returned to the Reds Academy at the start of 2009 and made his Super 14 debut mid-season against the Chiefs, going on to be capped on four occasions. Later in the year McKibbin lifted the Hospitals Cup as the premiership-winning captain of Brothers before heading south just one month later to join the Junior Waratahs.

McKibbin is the fifth player from the 2010 Junior Waratahs program to be promoted to the Super 14 squad next year along with Kane Douglas, Locky McCaffrey, Pat McCutcheon and Paddy Ryan.

** In other squad news, former Emerging Springbok second rower Hendrik Roodt has returned to South Africa after being released from the second year of his contract with the Waratahs. Roodt made one appearance off the bench during the 2010 Super 14 season and has returned to his home country where he hopes to link with a local franchise.

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