CONFIRMED: New home for disgraced Wallaby

NEWS: Disgraced fullback Karmichael Hunt was Monday given a chance to revive a rugby career overshadowed by a drug scandal, signing a one-year contract with the Waratahs.

Hunt, a former Rugby League international who made his Wallabies debut in 2017, was stood down from all contractual obligations later that year over drug charges.

The Queensland Reds star was fined Aus$10 000 and placed on a targeted testing programme in March after a court case.

The 32-year-old commenced pre-season training with the Sydney-based Super Rugby side on Monday after the swap with Tahs utility Bryce Hegarty, who has moved to the Reds.

Karmichael Hunt the latest NSW Waratahs signing for 2019.

Head Coach Daryl Gibson talks on the new signing here: https://t.co/e8LOLBPlQa#NSW145 pic.twitter.com/PkJCLcXhJe

— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) January 20, 2019

“We acknowledge the off-field issues that Karmichael has faced in the past and today’s [Monday] decision is one that as a team and a business, we have not taken lightly,” Tahs head coach Daryl Gibson said in a statement.

“Karmichael has been very open and genuine with us about his off-field issues and his desire to turn things around, not only professionally but personally.”

Hunt is expected to fill the gap left by playmakers Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale, who will be rested through the Super Rugby season to keep them fresh and injury-free for the World Cup in Japan from September.

Hunt said he was grateful for the second chance, and had used his time away from the sport last year to “recuperate physically and mentally”.

Meanwhile, Wallabies veteran Adam Ashely-Cooper will officially start training next week with the Waratahs after finishing his commitments with Japan’s Kobe Steelers side.

NSW Waratahs 2019 squad: Cameron Clark (Northern Suburbs), Adam Ashley-Cooper (TBC), Kurtley Beale (Eastern Suburbs), Angus Bell (Sydney University), Jack Dempsey (Gordon), Ben Donaldson (Randwick), BJ Edwards (Eastern Suburbs), Damien Fitzpatrick (Eastwood), Lalakai Foketi (Eastern Suburbs), Israel Folau (Sydney University), John Folau (TBC), Bernard Foley (Sydney University), Jake Gordon (Sydney University), Ned Hanigan (Randwick), Will Harris (Eastern Suburbs), Will Harrison (Randwick), Jed Holloway (Southern Districts) Michael Hooper (Manly), Karmichael Hunt (TBC), Harry Johnson-Holmes (Sydney University), Sekope Kepu (Randwick), Tolu Latu (Sydney University), Mack Mason (Eastern Suburbs), Ryan McCauley (Eastern Suburbs), Will Miller (Northern Suburbs), Alex Newsome (Eastern Suburbs), Rory O’Connor (Warringah), Nick Phipps (Sydney University), James Ramm (Randwick), Tom Robertson (Sydney University), Le Roux Roets (TBC), Curtis Rona (TBC), JP Sauni (Parramatta), Mitch Short (Randwick), Rob Simmons (Randwick), Hugh Sinclair (Northern Suburbs), Tom Staniforth (Eastern Suburbs), Rory Suttor (Sydney University), Lachlan Swinton (Sydney University), Patrick Tafa (Northern Suburbs), Chris Talakai (Sydney University), Andrew Tuala (TBC), Shambeckler Vui (Southern Districts), Cody Walker (Eastern Suburbs), Michael Wells (Northern Suburbs), Jeremy Williams (Eastern Suburbs).

AFP & @NSWWaratahs  

NSW Waratahs 2019 Squad Confirmed!

2019 Squad 👉 https://t.co/7YidI0w2zM#NSW145 pic.twitter.com/vXCldrSwTn

— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) January 21, 2019