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‘I have high hopes’: Sevens star Darby Lancaster signs with Rebels

(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The Rebels have pulled off a coup by luring young Sevens ace Darby Lancaster to Melbourne on a two-year Super Rugby Pacific deal.

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Australian clubs as well as NRL sides have been clamouring to sign the 20-year-old winger, who was one of the breakout stars of this year’s World Series Sevens.

From Kempsey on the NSW north coast, Lancaster scored 20 tries in 34 matches to also catch the eye of Junior Wallabies selectors.

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He was named in the Australian U20s squad who will play two matches against New Zealand in Wellington next week before their world titles starting next month in South Africa.

Lancaster had been working with the NSW Waratahs Academy when he was surprised by the opportunity to join the Sevens program, making his debut last year.

The Australian men qualified last weekend for the Sevens competition at next year’s Olympics in Paris, which Lancaster could still be a part of following the Super season.

The Rebels said they would be “encouraging” him to play in the Olympics, with their coach Kevin Foote a former South Africa Sevens representative.

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Lancaster follows former Sevens representatives Lachie Anderson and Joe Pincus to Melbourne, with both making an impact in Super rugby this season.

“The Rebels play an exciting and expansive style of rugby which will suit me as an outside back,” Lancaster said in a statement.

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“Obviously seeing the success of Joe Pincus and Lachie Anderson as former Sevens players, I can take great confidence in the Rebels ability to help me transition successfully back into XV’s.

“Both players are role models of mine and I hope to follow in their footsteps.

“I have loved watching them play this year and look forward to hopefully playing alongside them next year on AAMI Park.

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“I have high hopes for next year to be successful alongside a handful of new signings complimenting a strong core group of players there.”

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J
JW 46 minutes ago
Crusaders outlast fast starting Blues to reach another Super Rugby final

Yeah nar, but that’s kinda the thing, I don’t think the old approach was working either!


You might have it right though, leading up, in all rugby/competitions mean, to the last WC it did feel like there had been better discipline/less than the normal amount of cards. Well, at least a certain demographic of teams improved at least, but not so much NZ ones is my point.


I bet you also think going harsher would be the best way to go reducing head contact and the frequency of concussions?


I would hate to have your theory tested as it requires subjective thinking from the officials but..

AI Overview

In Super Rugby Pacific, a red card means the player is sent off for the rest of the match, but with a 20-minute red card, the team can replace the player after 20 minutes of playing with 14 men. If the foul play is deemed deliberate and with a high degree of danger, a full red card is issued, and the player cannot be replaced. A second yellow card also results in a 20-minute red card with a replacement allowed. 

is there to stop that from happening. The whole subjective thing is why we have 20min cards, and I worry that the same leniency that stopped them from red carding a player who ran 30 meters and still didn’t get his head low enough would stop them straight redn them too.


Back to the real topic though, right after that WC we saw those same angles getting red carded all over the show. So do some players actually have control over their actions enough to avoid head collisions (and didn’t gaf after the WC?), or was it pure luck or an imaginary period of good discipline?


So without a crystal ball to know the truth of it I think you’ll find it an immeasurably better product with 20m red cards, there just does not appear to be any appropriate amount of discipline added to the back end, the suspensions (likely controlled by WR), yet.

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