Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Australia coach Cheika hails retiring Wallaby Mumm

Australia forward Dean Mumm

Australia coach Michael Cheika has paid tribute to Dean Mumm after the second row announced he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Waratahs forward Mumm intends to spend his time away from the game raising money for charity and has a hike to the North Pole on the agenda for 2018.

The 33-year-old made his international debut against Ireland in 2008 but fell out of favour in the years that followed so he headed to the Premiership with Exeter Chiefs.

On returning to Waratahs in 2015 he forced his way back into Wallabies reckoning and was part of Cheika’s World Cup squad that was beaten in the final by New Zealand – Mumm captaining them in their pool match with Uruguay.

His career will come to an end later this year, but he remains available to add to his 57 Test caps and the international coach expects him to do so.

“Dean’s not only a great footballer but a great person and one that I have really enjoyed coaching,” Cheika said.

“He made a big decision to return to Australia in 2015 and stepped up his game to a new level, while also taking on more responsibility in developing others around him.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Dean’s got a real plan for his life post-rugby and we will support with that in any way we can, but he has still got plenty of opportunity to leave a legacy in the gold jersey and I expect he will do everything he can to do that before he hangs up the boots.”

Mumm explained that while the decision was a surprise to some, he had known since the start of 2017 that it would be his last campaign.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while,” the lock said.

“When you get to be the oldest in the team and at the back of the bus there’s probably only one way out and retirement’s something I’ve been working towards for a couple of years now.

“I was pretty clear with Daryl [Gibson, Waratahs coach] and the boys, they’ve known that this was going to be my last year.

“That makes it easy because a lot of the teams will be the last time you play them. I really appreciate all the boys being behind me to try and help me celebrate what’s been a pretty fun career.”

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 19 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

41 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster | Autumn Nations Series All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
Search