Rebels poach Brumbies' loosie
TRANSFER NEWS: Rebels seem to have found the perfect replacement to fill the void left by Amanaki Mafi.
The Rebels have signed Brumbies backrow Isi Naisarani for the 2019 season.
The 23-year-old arrives in Melbourne following a hugely impressive National Rugby Championship campaign for Brisbane City in 2016, that led to a breakout debut Super Rugby year for the Western Force.
He would be awarded the Nathan Sharpe Medal as the Force’s best-and-fairest player in 2017, before crossing to the Brumbies for the 2018 Super Rugby season.
One of Australian rugby’s brightest prospects, the Fijian-born back-rower, who will become eligible for Wallabies selection in April, said he was excited to push for higher honours in Melbourne.
“It’s been a big two years for me. I’m really excited to get down to Melbourne and team up with Dave at the Rebels. He’s had a big impact on me, and helping me to improve as a player,” Naisarani said.
“It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was playing for Brisbane City in the National Rugby Championship but I know that I have to keep on working hard to improve myself as a player.
“The World Cup in Japan is a big dream of mine and obviously to pull on that Gold jersey would be something very special,”
Melbourne Rebels Head Coach, Dave Wessels said he was excited to link back up with Naisarani.
“We’re very pleased to welcome Isi to Melbourne and it’s a testament to the high-performance program we’re creating here at the Rebels to attract a player of Isi’s quality,” Wessels said.
“It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to work with Isi again.
“He made a real impression straight away at the Western Force in his first year of Super Rugby, which is no easy feat to step straight into one of the toughest provincial rugby competitions in the world.
“Isi brings professionalism and work ethic on and off-the-track to everything he does.
“He adds a real touch of X-factor and versatility in the backrow and we think he’ll compliment the strength of our forward pack,”
