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Sydney - The Waratahs have announced the return of 27-year-old hooker Damien Fitzpatrick who has signed a two-year contract with his home side.
Born and raised in Sydney, Fitzpatrick has spent the last
three years playing for French outfit Lyon, assisting the side to win two
second division competitions, which earned them a place in the Top 14.
Prior to that he received 22 caps for the Waratahs after
making his debut for the Sydneysiders at the age of 20 back in 2009, where he
played a key support role to Waratahs stalwarts Adam Freier and Tatafu
Polota-Nau.
Returning to Australia this year, Fitzpatrick has already
made a huge impact as part of the Sydney Rays in this year’s National Rugby
Championship, having made the most amount of tackles in the tournament so far.
“Damien returns from France a much improved player,”said
Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson.
“He offers leadership potential and I’m sure he can really
add to the team.
“His return increases competition for the hooking spot next
season, which will challenge all three players to new heights.”
A member of the Eastwood Club, Fitzpatrick played a key part
in the side’s 2011 Shute Shield premiership. Renowned as a mobile ball-runner
and leader, he has a line-up of experience at the helm of several teams.
Fitzpatrick represented New South Wales at the Australia
Schools Championships, before being bestowed the opportunity to lead his
country as captain of the Australian Schoolboys in an undefeated campaign in
2008 against England, Samoa and New Zealand alongside the likes of Rob Horne,
Matt Toomua, James O’Connor and James Slipper.
His form during the series saw him picked up by the Waratahs before he was again named skipper of the Australian U20 Junior World Cup Team during his professional debut year in 2009.
