The Waratahs are running out of time to find a replacement in the second row for Dan Vickerman and co after secret talks with former Wallabies star Justin Harrison broke down last week.
Harrison who now plays for Bath looked to be a good fit for the Waratahs but revealed to The Sunday Telegraph that he had been in talks with the Waratahs for months and had seriously considered a shock return to the Super 14 next season.
But the veteran of 34 Tests for Australia says that he will now sign a one year extension with English club Bath, leaving the Waratahs to continue with their hunt for a second rower.
It’s not the first time that the Waratahs have lost a player in this way as new coach Chris Hickey says that a deal had fallen through with South African lock Anton van Zyl because the Australian Rugby Union felt that he didn’t fit their plans.
This leaves Hickey’s Waratahs just 53 days until the start of the Super 14 to find a new lineout target.
“We’re casting the net now to Australian players who may be playing overseas who may be available,” Hickey said.
“We’ve got two players we’re talking to at the moment and we feel they’re realistic options for us.
“We want to fill that (spot) in January. In the meantime we’ve been working with some of the good young locks we’ve got at the Waratahs like Chris Thompson and Kane Douglas.”
Thirty four year old Harrison could have been the perfect replacement for Vickerman, the pair having formed a successful combination at both the Brumbies and Waratahs.
Harrison said that working with Hickey had been a major temptation as the pair been tight friends for 15 years after Hickey recruited Harrison to Canberra in 1993 which proved to be the springboard for his international career.
“Chris pretty much started the rugby journey for me,” Harrison said.
“I regard him as a very good coach and someone I have a lot more than just a rugby relationship with.
