Brumbies sign Titans' Tomane
New Brumbies coach Jake White has bolstered the Super Rugby franchise's backline stocks by signing of NRL centre Joseph Tomane to a two-year deal.
The 105kg centre will provide some power and muscle among the Brumbies outside backs who have lost Wallabies star Adam Ashley-Cooper to the NSW Waratahs for 2012.
Tomane is currently contracted to the Gold Coast Titans but has played only three NRL games this season, spending most of his time in the second-tier Queensland Cup.
The 21-year-old previously played for fellow NRL club Melbourne Storm but has a background in rugby union and played for the Australian Schoolboys in 2007.
The lure of playing under White, a World Cup winning coach with South Africa (2007) and his Brumbies' assistant, former Wallabies playmaker Stephen Larkham, helped to snare Tomane.
"I'm coming across for the challenge really, to be playing Super Rugby and to be coached by Jake White and the rest of the coaching staff is really exciting for me," said Tomane, who came through the junior rugby ranks with James O'Connor and Matt Toomua.
"I've met with Stephen Larkham a few times already and he's a cool guy. He's one of the reasons I ended up coming down there and choosing the Brumbies.
"Bernie (Larkham) being there really sweetened the deal.
"My first priority is to secure a spot in the starting XV, that's where my head will be when I get down there and start training with the Brumbies," Tomane said.
"Hopefully I can extend my rugby career further than the next two years and ultimately I'd love to represent the Wallabies, but I think that's looking at the bigger picture.
"I've got plenty of experience playing rugby and only started playing rugby league once I'd left school so I'm confident I'll be able to pick up where I left off without too many troubles."
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