Son of All Blacks legend swaps Highlanders for Waratahs
The NSW Waratahs have secured the services of Jack Whetton on a two-year deal, with the second-rower joining Rob Penney’s squad for the 2021 Super Rugby season.
Whetton – who featured for the Highlanders in Super Rugby Aotearoa – will link up with the Waratahs in January for pre-season training.
No stranger to Australian rugby, Whetton made his Super Rugby debut for the Brumbies back in 2014 before heading north to Europe, where appearances for Leicester Tigers, Nevers and Yorkshire Carnegie would follow.
He returned to New Zealand to link up with the Highlanders in 2018, while also plying his trade for Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup – continuing an association with the club that stretches back to 2013.
He joins a new look second row contingent for the Waratahs, following the signings of both Sam Wykes and Sam Caird.
Whilst Whetton’s father, Gary played 56 Tests for the All Blacks, he qualifies for Australian selection through his grandfather.
NSWRU General Manager of Rugby, Tim Rapp said that Whetton’s recruitment was another step towards finalising the 2021 forward pack.
“There’s a real need for quality locks in the player market at the moment, it’s something that’s been talked about fairly publicly over the last 12 months,” Rapp said.
“We recognised some gaps in our roster in that position and have recruited accordingly.
“A player of Jack’s quality being available made things easy, he’s got great experience in the southern and northern hemispheres and will complement our other recent signings in Sam Wykes and Caird.”
NSW Waratahs Head Coach, Rob Penney was looking forward to welcoming Whetton to New South Wales.
“It’s another great signing for us as we get stuck into pre-season for 2021,” Penney said.
“Jack’s been a part of the Highlanders system for the past couple of years and has been playing some great footy for Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup.
“He’s a good character who will fit well into the environment we’re creating here and I’m looking forward to seeing him contribute significantly to our group.”
The Queensland Rugby Union has today announced the Queensland Reds have signed teenage flyhalf Tom Lynagh, son of Wallabies great Michael. #QueenslandReds https://t.co/NXydXD8vYR
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 23, 2020
Whetton said he was excited about the challenge ahead in 2021.
“All the conversations I’ve had with Tim [Rapp] and Rob [Penney] have given me a great indication of the direction the Waratahs are heading and I’m looking forward to contributing to that,” Whetton said.
“There’s a lot to like about the way Rob wants us to play and I’m keen to work with the wider coaching group who are all well respected figures in the game.
“It’s great to be coming back to Australia, I’ve got great memories from my last stint here and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead in New South Wales.”
– Waratahs Rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
27 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
26 Go to comments