Australian National Rugby League club Sydney Roosters is searching for new talent in South Africa, reports said on Saturday.
Roosters recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan spent this week in South Africa evaluating emerging rugby talent in a bid to bolster his club’s playing stocks for next season and beyond.
”Peter thinks it was worth going over there just to have a look,” Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce told the Australian newspaper.
”Sometimes you have to take the road less travelled. He hasn’t gone there with any specific brief.”
South Africa has been largely untouched by NRL clubs, with only ex-Springbok forward Tiaan Strauss proving a hit with the Cronulla Sharks in 1996.
The Australian said the Roosters would find it difficult to match the money on offer in South Africa at domestic and Super 14 provincial level.
But the club is concentrating on enticing young players looking for an opportunity, it said.
O’Sullivan has an outstanding record in player recruitment and was credited with discovering Australian rugby league international backs Israel Folau and Greg Inglis when he was the recruitment
officer at NRL rival club Melbourne Storm. – AFP
