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Vickerman rekindles World Cup dream

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:04

Back in the good old days: Dan Vickerman and Nathan Sharpe. (c) Gallo

The Wallabies' second row stocks for next year have been boosted by the return of Dan Vickerman, who has re-signed with the Australian Rugby Union from June next year until the end of 2013.

After heading to England two years ago to study at Cambridge University, Vickerman also confirmed that he would be rejoining the Waratahs, his most recent Super Rugby team.

The 2,03-metre lock will complete a three-year stint in England next June and return to Sydney where he hopes to launch a his bid for inclusion in Australia's World Cup squad.

The country's third most-capped lock forward - with 55 Test appearances to his name - Vickerman made his debut against France in Sydney in 2002, having previously represented South Africa at Under-21 level.

A member of the Australian squads at the 2003 and 2007 World Cups, the 31-year-old last appeared for the Wallabies during the 27-15 win over South Africa at Durban in 2008.

A shoulder injury, sustained in that match, forced Vickerman home from the two-Test tour, bringing an early end to his involvement in the 2008 Tri-Nations series.

He then left the country before the end of that year to commence a period of study at Cambridge.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans welcomed Vickerman's return to Australia.

"Dan will have to earn his place, as any player does, but his return to Australia is great news for the game and potentially the Wallabies," Deans said.

"Regaining a player of his wide ranging experience can only have benefits, especially given that he plays in a position where our depth has been tested in recent times. We have some promising young locks emerging but you can't buy experience and Dan certainly brings that to the table."

Vickerman, who has been sidelined from the game in recent months due to injury, will return to Australia on a full-time basis once he has concluded his studies.

While he will arrive back in time to potentially play in a third World Cup, Deans says no guarantees have been offered in terms of selection.

"Dan knows that he will have to earn a place in the Wallabies like everyone else. He will have to make the most of the playing opportunities that he has once he gets back to Australia, prior to our first selection."

Vickerman, who represented the Waratahs between 2004 and 2008, having started off in Super Rugby with the Brumbies in 2001, said it was "a big decision" to leave Australia in 2008, but he wouldn't change a thing.

"Rugby has given me the opportunity to play and study abroad but next year is the right time to come back," said Vickerman.

"I've been in communication with the coaching staff at the Waratahs and the Wallabies for a while now and collectively we're all on the same page in terms of where we want to be at and what we want to accomplish.

"I know there's a lot of hard work to be done over the next 12 months to push for a place in the World Cup squad, but that's what I'm focusing on and that's what I want to achieve."

While rugby has been secondary to his studies over the past two years, Vickerman has spent much of his mid-year break in Sydney training under the guidance of Waratahs strength and conditioning staff.

And though the immediate focus upon his return will centre on the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Vickerman has also announced he will join the Waratahs for the 2012 and 2013 Super Rugby seasons.

Waratahs head coach Chris Hickey said the pending return of Vickerman would be a fantastic boost to the Sydney-based franchise.

"When Dan's at the peak of his game he's quite simply one of the best locks in the world and that's pretty hard to replicate," said Hickey.

"We've been building our second row stocks over the past couple of years since Dan left and it's provided opportunities to players like Kane Douglas to come through the ranks.

"Dan's return is only going to help those players, boost our depth further and his on-field leadership will be important to the entire squad."

Born in Cape Town, Vickerman represented South Africa at Under-21 level in 1999, before moving to Australia where he first played for the Brumbies in 2001. In 2002 he was selected for Australia A, before being promoted to the Test team to make his debut against France.

In 2004 Vickerman moved to Sydney to join the Waratahs where he established himself as one of the leading locks in the world. In 2006 he was named as a Wallaby vice-captain and the following year took part in his second World Cup campaign.

Prior to leaving Australia in 2008, Vickerman appeared in 54 Tests for the Wallabies and earned 85 caps at Super Rugby level - 52 with the 'Tahs (2004-2008) and 33 with the Brumbies (2001-03).

Vickerman has appeared in the last two Varsity matches between Oxford and Cambridge, captaining the Cambridge to victory in 2009. Last season he linked with Northampton Saints however he was limited to a solitary appearance against Sale in the Guinness Premiership.

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