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Waratahs hooker signs on for his ninth season

Waratahs hooker Damien Fitzpatrick prepares to throw in to a lineout.(Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

The Waratahs have received a shot in the arm through the signature of experienced hooker Damien Fitzpatrick for the 2020 Super Rugby season.

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Entering his ninth campaign with NSW, the 30-year-old will again play a role in the engine room of the club’s forward pack.

Having debuted halfway through the 2009 season, Fitzpatrick earned 22 caps for NSW before heading to Lyon for three seasons in 2013, helping the French outfit gain promotion to the Premier Division.

Fitzpatrick returned on a two-year contract in late 2016 and will again extend his time after a strong display in 2019.

He said the decision to re-sign with the 2014 Super Rugby champions was easy.

“Playing for the Waratahs is what I truly love doing, so any opportunity to continuing to do what you love and are passionate about is something I’m grateful for,” Fitzpatrick said.

“The unknown is exciting. A new-look squad under a new coach can bring endless possibilities and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead for the Waratahs.”

Fitzpatrick will not play in the National Rugby Championship as he takes up a short-term contract overseas before returning for the Super Rugby pre-season in December.

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– AAP

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AM 41 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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