Cummins sticks with the Force
Wallabies winger Nick Cummins will be back with the Western Force for the next two seaons.
Frustrating and protracted negotiations with the Australian Rugby Union over his Wallabies top-up have finally been completed and Cummins had final discussions with Force management in Perth today.
“It’s great to put pen to paper with Australian Rugby for the next two years. I’m looking forward to being back with the Wallabies again and hopefully I can get some more game time during the Spring Tour.
“I’m excited to be continuing with the Wallabies and building with the Force over the next couple of years.”
Cummins, who has been selected for the Wallabies' European Grand Slam tour, was off contract with the Super Rugby club in December and there was interest from another Australian team and French and Japanese clubs.
The flying "honey badger" - his self-anointed nickname - had said he wanted to remain with the Force.
Cummins said today he was excited about continuing his career with the Perth team.
“I’ve made Perth my home over the past six years and it’s exciting to be sticking around with this bunch of blokes and developing my game where I started my Super Rugby career,” he said.
“We’ve got a good group here and I’m looking forward to better results this year. Challenging each other on the paddock will be at the forefront of what we’re looking to achieve.”
Western Force coach Michael Foley said Cummins would bring significant physical presence to the back line.
“Nick creates a lot of energy among the team. He plays with an intensity that is second to none,” Foley said.
“He has an ability to use his speed to finish when in space, but also uses his power and determination to break tackles in close contact situations.”
Cummins has scored nine tries in 59 appearances for the Force since 2007.
His retention is an important link in what is shaping as a dynamic back line that will include former All Blacks scrum-half Alby Mathewson, Wallaby-in-waiting Kyle Godwin and new signing Luke Morahan.
The club is still negotiating with dumped Wallaby James O'Connor, who would bring more threats to the line-up.
If he returns it would complete the Force 2014 squad.
Cummins said the potential back line was very exciting.
"All these boys are pretty fast and exciting players, so good to run off the back of," he said.
Cummins has had mixed fortunes with the Wallabies, shattering his ankle on his very first day of training four years ago.
He was called back into the squad that travelled to South Africa the following year and won a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games in India.
Cummins made his Test debut against Argentina in 2012 and in that year's northern hemisphere tour was Australia's lone try-scorer in wins over England and Italy.
A knee injury limited him to just six games for the Force last season, but he showed enough to earn a recall to the Wallabies squad for the British and Irish Lions Test series.
He broke his hand in the one-point win over Argentina at Patersons Stadium in September, forcing him out of the final Rugby Championship matches.
