Australian rugby’s rising star Jack Maddocks to make Melbourne Rebels debut
JUST weeks after starring for Australia’s under-20s side at the World Cup and inking a two-year contract with the Rebels, Jack Maddocks will make his debut for the Melbourne club.
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AUSTRALIAN rugby rising star Jack Maddocks will make his Super Rugby debut on Friday night – just over two weeks after signing with Melbourne Rebels.
The 19-year-old – who starred for Australia at the recent World Rugby under-20 championships – recently put pen to paper on a two-year deal starting from next season.
But, in a big shock, the Rebels’ injury crisis has resulted in Maddocks being added to the bench for the final game of the season against Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium.
“Jack’s signed for next year obviously, but we had him here last week just because we were depleted with numbers at training with not enough backs,” Rebels coach Tony McGahan said.
“We’ve brought him in this week and we’ve gone through all the numbers and unfortunately we didn’t have any more to go to.
“He’s impressed us at training with what he’s done and he really impressed with the Australian under-20’s in Manchester recently and he’s a good physical player.
“He gets an opportunity because we think he can play and we certainly wouldn’t put him out there if there was any doubts about whether he could play Super Rugby.”
The Rebels have 11 players unavailable this week, although they will be bolstered by the return of lock Luke Jones, Sean McMahon and Mitch Inman.
Jones, will make his 72nd and last Super Rugby appearance for the club before the foundation player’s departure to France.
Utility back Paul Asquith will also make his run-on debut after two weeks as a reserve.
“It is nice to get a few guys back with a bit of experience there,” McGahan said.
“That will certainly bolster us and it is well needed this week.”
The Rebels will be looking to equal the club’s record of seven victories in a season when it meets the Reds.
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