MORAHAN LATEST TO RE-COMMIT TO FORCE

Sep 14 • General News, Super Rugby • 1473 Views • Comments Off on MORAHAN LATEST TO RE-COMMIT TO FORCE

Flyer Luke Morahan has re-signed with the Western Force and will remain at the club for at least another season.

The express-paced outside back – who has re-signed for one year with the option of a second – was the club’s leading try scorer in 2015 (five tries) and brings with him a wealth of experience, having played seven seasons and 68 matches of Asteron Life Super Rugby, been a long-term representative in the Australia Sevens side, as well as having played one Test for the Wallabies.

Morahan’s is the latest in a spate of re-signings for the Western Force, including Francois van Wyk, Marcel Brache and Brynard Srander, that coincides with the start of the Western Force’s membership season, with a range of new membership options and improvements –including free memberships for children under 16, and priority access to the Wallabies Test match at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium) – for the 2016 Asteron Life Super Rugby season.

“I’m really excited about where the club’s heading and it made it a very easy decision to re-sign,” Morahan said. “I’ve enjoyed my last two years here, we’ve got a great and very committed group of people here that are all working very hard towards a common goal.

“Over the past few years we’ve been growing and gaining valuable experience as a squad. We’ve got a lot of young guys that have been given opportunities and we’ve now added a few new signings that bring further competition within the team. We know that we can compete with the best backlines in the competition, but to now have that additional depth and added experience within our backline is a significant benefit to us as a team.

“Personally, I had an injury setback [hamstring] last year, which was made easier because we were doing well. This year, I was really happy to get a full season under my belt – which was the first time in a few years I’d been able to do that in any team. It was great to be able to get a few tries this year which is something I’m really keen to do over the next period, as well as playing as consistently as I can.

“We’ve done a lot of work reviewing last season; we’ve had a lot of hard discussions but they’ve been very productive and we’re all very focused now on looking forward. What we’ve been working on and how we’ve trained over the last two months already has me very excited about what we can do as a team next season.”

Morahan says that the inclusion of his former Southport School and Queensland Reds teammates – Jono Lance and Ben Tapuai – to the Force squad from 2016, will provide further experience and competition into the Western Australian backline.

“I’ve played a lot of football with them through school and early on at the Reds; I know how they play and it’s exciting to have the chance to pick up those combinations again,” he said.

“They’ll both be great for the club – on and off the field. Importantly, they’ll also bring a wealth of knowledge with them, having been members of some of the best backlines in the world. Jono has been a member of Super Rugby-winning teams at two separate clubs, Ben recently played very well for the Baa-Baas, and has been with the Wallabies and Reds. That knowledge they’ll bring and the competition they’ll provide will be really good for us next year.”

Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley says Morahan has developed into a key attacking threat within the Force backline.

“Luke has done well since he’s been at the club, including being our top try scorer this year,” he said.

“What’s most exciting is that he is yet to reach his full potential. He has the skill set to play both back three and centre, which will become an integral part of the way we’ll play in 2016.

“The way he’s tackling his preparation for the 2016 season is allowing him to be a strong role model within the squad.”

Profile

Name: Luke Morahan

Born: 13/04/1990, Brisbane

Position: Winger/fullback/outside centre

Club: Kalamunda

Height: 189cm

Weight: 95kg

Super Rugby caps: 68

Super Rugby points: 90 (18 tries)

Super Rugby debut: 2009 (Reds) v Lions, Brisbane

Test caps: 1

Test points: 0

Test debut: 2012 v Scotland, Newcastle

Representative Rugby: 2014-2015 Western Force; 2012 Australian Wallabies; 2008-2013 Australian Sevens; 2009-2013 Queensland Reds; 2007 Australia A Schoolboys