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Western Force sign Reds playmaker
July 04, 2005 - 4:10pm
Story by: Other
Queensland Reds playmaker Brock James has joined the Western Force in a
two year deal.
The 23 year old fly-half represented Australia at Under 16, Under 19,
Under 21 and Sevens levels.
At 1.82m and 88kg, James is a skilful and elusive runner with a solid
kicking game.
Born in Victoria, James came to prominence through the South Australian
rugby system, making the Australian Under 16 side despite playing in
Division II of the National Championships.
After accepting a rugby scholarship in NSW, James went on to play for
the national Under 19 team in 2000 and the Under 21 World Cup side in 2002
- where he kept Matt Giteau on the bench.
In 2004, James played for Taranaki in New Zealand's National Provincial
Championship, where he won awards for Most Valuable Player, Best Back and
Leading Point Scorer.
James was rewarded with a contract at the Queensland Reds, making 3
appearances during the 2005 Super 12 season.
"I'm really excited about joining the Western Force. It's a great
opportunity to be working with the new team and John Mitchell," James
said.
"I've had a bad run with injury this year, so I'm really looking
forward to getting into it."
Western Force coach John Mitchell saw James' form in the NPC firsthand
as coach of rival side Waikato.
"His play at Taranaki last year was outstanding; he was clearly in
control of the game," said Mitchell. "His ability to turn
defences around with his vision and tactical kicking was very
impressive."
The arrival of James at the Western Force means the new team now has
three young and immensely talented fly-halves/inside backs in James,
Lachlan Mackay and Scott Daruda.
Western Force assistant coach John Mulvihill said the signing of James
gives the team more options.
"James, Mackay and Daruda are all versatile young players, with
the ability to play 10 (fly-half) and 12 (inside centre)."
WESTERN FORCE SQUAD
Richard Brown, Vitori Buatava, Brendan Cannon, Pek Cowan, Scott Daruda,
Tim Davidson, Luke Doherty, David Fitter, Josh Graham, Gareth Hardy, Matt
Henjak, James Hilgendorf, Matthew Hodgson, Luke Holmes, Digby Ioane, Brock
James, Tai McIsaac, Lachlan MacKay, Chris O'Young, Alexander Peden, Junior
Pelesasa, David Pusey, Angus Scott, Nathan Sharpe, Cameron Shepherd,
Tahjon Smallman-Mailata, Brett Stapleton, Rudi Vedelago, John Welborn, AJ
Whalley, Matt Windle
Source: http://www.rugby.com.au/news/
Brock James
| Name |
Brock James |
| Position |
Flyhalf |
| Height |
177cm |
| Weight |
87kg |
| Date of Birth |
22/10/1981 |
| Club |
Nedlands |
| Super 14 Team |
Emirates Western Force |
| Super 12/14 Points |
2 |
| Super 12/14 Caps |
7 (3 Qld) |
| 2006 Super 14 Caps |
4 |
| Honours |
2002 - Australian U21s, Australian Sevens 2000 - Australian
U19s Australian Sports Medal - Contribution to Rugby Union in
South Australia |
A talented flyhalf with a knack for turning defences around with his
strong kicking, Brock hails from South Australia - a State not known for
producing rugby talent. After representing Australia at U19, U21 and
Sevens level, he played for Taranaki in New Zealand's National
Provincial Championship in 2004, and was named the team's most
valuable player. Off the field, Brock loves the beach, the movies
and a game of golf.
Lions tour match-by-match breakdown
01 June 2005
By DANIEL GILHOOLY
Match-by-match analysis of the British and Irish Lions' 11-game tour of
New Zealand:
June 8: v Taranaki, New Plymouth
Another rugged affair is on the cards, with Taranaki perenially
fielding forward packs loathe to take a backward step. The tight five
remains a strength, anchored by veteran prop Gordon Slater and former All
Blacks hooker Andrew Hore.
Will miss Australian first five-eighth Brock James, who guided the team
to fifth in the NPC last year, missing the playoffs by a point. James
isn't returning but a host of other talented backs were unveiled last
year.
Rank behind Auckland, Canterbury and Otago as the Lions' most frequent
opponents although haven't had a win since 1908.
1888: Great Britain 7 Taranaki Clubs 1, Taranaki Clubs 1 Great Britain
0. 1904: Great Britain 0 Taranaki/Wanganui/Manawatu 0. 1908: Taranaki 5
Anglo-Welsh 0. 1930: Lions 23 Taranaki 7. 1950: Lions 25 Taranaki 3. 1959:
Lions 15 Taranaki 3. 1966: Lions 12 Taranaki 9. 1971: Lions 14 Taranaki 9.
1977: Lions 21 Taranaki 13. 1993: Lions 49 Taranaki 25.
While we have Brock James in the side who is a natural
5/8. I saw him play the last
couple of minutes against the Stormers in the first half.
He touched the ball 3 times and each time he did something
different: a clever inside pass, a nice long pass and a grubber behind the
first line of defence. It
was so refreshing to see someone reading the situation and using the
players around him rather than going a little bomb or failed grubber and
hoping something will happen.
From: http://www.cup-rugby.com/super12/
Thursday, January 27, 2005
The Reds have announced their team to take on the Brumbies this
Saturday. You can find the line-up here on the ARU
site. As anticipated, Ben Tune will take the field from the kick off
at outside centre. Julian Huxley will also be playing, but Elton
Flatley is still out injured as is John Roe, Caleb Brown and Brock
James. Wendell Sailor, Nick Stiles, and Sean Hardman are all being
rested.
The Brumbies have also announced their squad for the game which you
can also find on the ARU site here.
In all they have 8 players on debut for the Brumbies, but there's some
talent there in those newbies including the Australian schoolboys
co-captains Julian Salvi and Tatafu Polota-Nau.
Owen 'Melons' Finigan will captain the Brumbies in the game as
Stirling Mortlock won't be playing.
I love both of these teams, and it's quite an interesting mix of
players to take field for both sides. Time to dust off the cobwebs and
give themselves a run. A trial game is a good opportunity to get the
new players on the paddock as well.
Go Reds! See, while I love the Brumbies, I am a Queenslander!!
:)
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