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Montpellier sign rising Italian flyhalf star Paolo Garbisi

By Ian Cameron
Paolo Garbisi /PA

In a blow for Italian club rugby and a coup for Philippe Saint-André, Montpellier have signed rising star Paolo Garbisi.

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The Treviso flyhalf has been a standout for both his club in the PRO14 and for the national side, having already amassed 10 caps for the Azzurri. His kicking abilities mean that he will go some way to filling to void left by the departure of Alex Lozowski and Johan Goosen from the club.

Saint-André describes the 21-year-old as Italy’s best player in this year’s Guinness Six Nations.

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“Paolo was the best Italian player of the last 6 Nations tournament. He is a bit like the nugget of Italian rugby.

“He really wanted to take up the challenge of progressing and playing for a big club. We, with the departure of Alex Lozowski and Johan Goosen we really needed a player like him, able to play 10, 12, 15, kicker.”

He signed a two-year contract with MHR, who finished a lowly 10 in this year’s Top 14.

“He really has wanted to come with us, to grow, to train in a professional structure.”

Garbisi (6ft, 88kg), for his part, is looking ahead to a new adventure in a new league and country.

“I am really happy to join a big club like Montpellier!” said Garbisi. “I can’t wait to resume the season and start this new chapter of my career in a new country.”

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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