Rebels sign Waratahs winger Cam Crawford

The Melbourne Rebels have signed former Brumbies and now Waratahs winger Cam Crawford for the 2015 and 2016 Super Rugby seasons.

Twenty-five-year-old Crawford had to make it into Super Rugby the hard way, with a number of injuries preventing him from making a long-awaited Super Rugby debut until the 2012 season.

Playing for the Brumbies, Cam featured in one Super Rugby game and also against the touring Welsh, when former Rebels captain Gareth Delve featured for the touring international side.

Moving back to his hometown Sydney for the 2013 season, an extended run in the Waratahs side saw Cam score a phenomenal eight tries in seven Super Rugby appearances, before adding to that tally with another four appearances thus far in 2014.

Particularly sizable for an outside back, Crawford’s signing strengthens an impressive collection of young outside backs determined to succeed under the continual improvement of Head Coach Tony McGahan’s Rugby program.

McGahan was pleased to announce the signing of Crawford, having pursued him for quite some time.

“We have certainly done our homework on Cam, and have been tracking him for well over twelve months,” McGahan said.

“We recognise what a good player he is, and he was recognised by the Wallaby selectors last year; he would have been involved in some capacity if he didn’t get injured. We talked to a lot of his past coaches and kept coming back to the decision that he would be a great addition to our back three, whether that is at wing or fullback. “

“We’re delighted with the back three game skills he brings to the group, and more importantly the type of person that he is; he’ll really add to what we are doing down here on and off the field.”

Joining a very young backline, Crawford will bring a lot more experience to the group than his twelve Super Rugby games suggest.

“Cam has got some good experience, and we are certainly looking to add different compliments to the young group of backs that we have here,” McGahan explained.

“Cam has been at the Brumbies when they were starting to rebuild their program, and then he went to the Waratahs when they were re-building their program and now we’re in a similar situation; he’ll bring a lot of experience in regards to that. Cam certainly knows a lot of the tell-tale signs of being successful and how that looks and feels, and he’ll be important to the playing group.”

McGahan is excited with the technical ability of Crawford, and believes Rebels members are in for a treat when their new signing is unleashed at AAMI Park in 2015.

“Cam has a great physicality in what he does, and is able to use this well in contact situations. He has a very good kicking game, is sound underneath the high ball and has an attacking mindset, so he will give us some more threat on the edge and the back field which is really important as we go forward next year.”