LEINSTER HEAD COACH Leo Cullen feels Scott Fardy’s experience will be a valuable addition to the province next season, and in more ways than just his on-field contributions.
The imposing Brumbies back row will be 33 before he travels to Ireland after the Super Rugby season. But aside from the second row usually being a position which allows players slightly greater longevity than other areas, Cullen feels that his experience will be a valuable addition to help improve and develop the young talent that will be around him.
“At the start of the week, there was the announcement about a lot of young academy players progressing into the senior team and you think of what the model is here at Leinster, of committing so many resources to the academy in trying to produce good young players,” said Cullen.
“To get someone like Scott Fardy into the group who has 39 Tests, a lot of Super Rugby experience, he’s been around and played in Japan as well. He came through a slightly unorthodox route because he would have played a lot of club rugby as well. I think the level of experience that he can bring to the group and add to the environment.
I had some good discussions with him and I think he can really add to the group on a much broader scale then just what he delivers on the field.”
The Brumbies back row has been recruited to play as a lock in Ireland after the current Super Rugby season. Cullen denied that there is any stipulation passed down from the IRFU which would prevent Fardy from playing in the back row, but he expects the Wallaby only to be used on the blindside in an emergency scenario.
“Obviously, it depends. It’s so far away. Primarily he’s been signed as a second-row — depending on any given day things and plans change.”
“We’ve basically signed him as a second-row so that’s where Scott will primarily will or will be considered to play.”
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