Horwitz excited about Super Melbourne move
He's nursing an injured cheekbone, but Australia’s only Jewish player at Super Rugby level, David Horwitz, is in high spirits about his forthcoming move from the NSW Waratahs to the Melbourne Rebels.
HE’S nursing an injured cheekbone, but Australia’s only Jewish player at Super Rugby level, David Horwitz, is in high spirits about his forthcoming move from the NSW Waratahs to the Melbourne Rebels.
Armed with 27 matches for the ‘Tahs in two seasons, the 22-year-old Randwick junior signed a one-year contract with the Rebels to fill the shoes of departing veteran Mitch Inman, and he’ll join an exciting backline that includes Wallaby players Reece Hodge and Marika Koroibete.
With superstar Kurtley Beale returning to the Waratahs, Horwitz felt his best chance of starting at inside centre or fly-half in most games next year – a goal he set and achieved this season – would be with the Rebels.
“It was always going to be a tough decision to leave my home state, because when I was a youngster I was always putting on a blue jersey and supporting the ‘Tahs,” Horwitz told The AJN on Monday.
“But I’m really excited to be starting a new journey with the Rebels in Australia’s sports capital.
“They have really good facilities, a good core group of players and they are recruiting well, so I see a lot of success ahead for the club.”
The former Moriah and Scots College student said he was pleased with his form, particularly in the second half of what was a disappointing season for NSW.
“It was tough for the team not doing as well as we’d planned, but we never stopped trying.
“I’ll take many great memories with me, but probably the relationships I developed at the club the most.
“I got to play alongside some of the greats like Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley and Israel Folau – it was a great apprenticeship.”
Horwitz was also happy to have been able to play in several games this season for Randwick in the Shute Shield, where his rugby career began.
“I was first year out of high school when I played for Randwick, so it was nice to go back and play a bit for them.
“Unfortunately I busted by cheekbone in the game against Souths [on August 5] and had to have facial surgery and miss the semi-final [which Randwick lost].
“But the injury is healing well, and I’m looking forward to flying to Melbourne in a few weeks.”
SHANE DESIATNIK
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