Waratahs sign 19-year-old prop
June 06 2008
After making his Super 14 debut in 2008, Southern Districts prop Dan Palmer has signed on for three years with the Waratahs.
A regular in junior representative teams, Palmer, 19, joined the Junior Waratahs this year and impressed with his early season form.
An opening through injury saw Palmer make his Super 14 debut from the bench in the Waratahs victory over the Highlanders in Round three.
Palmer was also flown to South Africa to join the Waratahs squad ahead of their Round 13 clash with the Stormers.
He is currently in Wales with the Australian U20 squad for the Junior World Championships and on Friday was named at tighthead prop in Australia's opening match of the tournament against Canada.
"Finding 19-year-old props who can handle Super 14 football is a rarity and we're sure that over the next three years Dan will develop into one of the premier props in Australian Rugby," said NSWRU Chief Executive Officer, Jim L'Estrange.
From Barrack Heights on the south coast of NSW, Palmer followed the traditional pathway through to senior representative football after being selected for Australian Schools A in 2005, Australian Schools in 2006 and then the national team for the 2007 IRB U19 World Championship.
His elevation to the Waratahs Super 14 squad strengthens the NSW front row stocks which currently boast Wallaby props Matt Dunning, Benn Robinson and Al Baxter.