Chiefs in Skelton coup
It may not be the Wallaby, but the just dethroned two-time Super Rugby champion Chiefs will have a Skelton in their ranks next year.
According to reports Cameron Skelton, younger brother of the Australian cult hero Will Skelton, will look to make his name in New Zealand.
Fairfax Media reported that the 19-year-old Skelton, Cameron, has joined the Chiefs.
At 145kg and 205cm, the younger Skelton was a valued member of the Waratahs' Under-20 squad and was set to join the senior squad this coming pre-season to begin the challenging transition to Super Rugby.
But after representing Samoa in the junior world championships in New Zealand last month, Cameron Skelton was offered a package too good to pass up from Dave Rennie and the Chiefs.
Unlike Brumbies wing Henry Speight and centre Christian Leali'ifano, who both rejected overtures from Rennie in recent years, Skelton chose to carve out a career away from the spotlight on his older brother.
The move means the brothers, who are cousins of All Black Brad Mika, will not have the chance to play together in coming years but may be playing against each other within one or two seasons.
The elder Skelton, meanwhile, was helped the Waratahs wrap up in a historic 26-8 win over the Brumbies at the weekend.
Skelton had made a handful of starts for the Tahs this season, but in games in which coach Michael Cheika has been willing to take a more experimental approach to selection.
He is set to again be named as an impact player off the bench against the Crusaders, but after the success of his unexpected interchange with Kane Douglas – and not Jacques Potgieter – Cheika may be encouraged to try that tweak again.
After escaping with a penalty for a high shot on Brumbies No.9 Nic White, Skelton was apologetic.
''I've just got to get lower, full stop. I'm pretty tall but I can't use that as an excuse. You don't want to cost the team," he said.
"I'll try my best to work on that this week."
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
