Former Wallabies winger Clyde Rathbone has come out of retirement join the Brumbies for the 2013 season.
Wallaby veteran makes comeback with Brumbies
Former Australia winger Clyde Rathbone has come out of retirement to sign a one-year deal with the Brumbies for the 2013 season.
Rathbone, who was forced to retire in 2009 after a succession of injuries, will reunite with coach Jake White at the Canberra-based franchise.
The 31-year-old, who was born in Durban, captained White's World Cup winning South African under-21 side in 2002 before moving down under, where he qualified for Australia through his grandmother.
A veteran 26 Tests for the Wallabies, Rathbone played 49 Super Rugby games for the Brumbies between 2003 and 2009.
Three years after hanging up his boots he is delighted to be putting them back on again in the Australian capital but has no intention of making up the numbers.
"It's a new challenge for me to be in this position and to have another shot at playing professional rugby with the Brumbies," he said.
Outstanding
"The Brumbies rugby program is in outstanding shape. The coaching and conditioning staff are some of the best in the business and it's easy to see why the team was so fit and cohesive in 2012.
"I'm not coming back to make up the numbers. Like all the players here I've got goals and objectives. I want to meet those targets in 2013 and contribute to this team."
Brumbies coach White is thrilled to have a player of Rathbone's calibre on the Brumbies roster for next season.
"It's fantastic that a guy like Clyde can see the value of our rugby program and wants to come back and have another crack at playing professionally," he said.
"From the first time I saw Clyde play as a youngster, I knew there was something special about him and that I wanted a chance to coach him at a higher level.
"From a coach's perspective, Clyde's signature is another confirmation that what we are doing with the Brumbies and rugby in the ACT is on track.
"I look forward to seeing Clyde contribute to this team, both on and off the field, throughout the coming Super Rugby season."
