Rathbone to start for Brumbies against Reds

Former Wallabies winger Clyde Rathbone will complete his return to Super Rugby on Saturday as Brumbies coach Jake White has confirmed that he will start against the Reds.

White says that Rathbone, who has overcome a battle with depression and returned to rugby and retired in 2009, will definitely start against the Reds in their first round match in Canberra for his 50th Brumbies cap.

Thirty-one-year-old Rathbone impressed White in both of the Brumbies warm ups by scoring in three tries in the two matches.

Rathbone’s rivals Joe Tomane and Henry Speight both enjoyed strong Super Rugby campaigns last year but the former Wallaby has overtaken them in the selection order.

White and Rathbone have a long working relationship as in 2002 Rathbone was captain of White’s South African under-21 Junior World Cup winning team.

White will name the rest of his Brumbies team later in the week.