The Western Force is excited to announce the arrival of young gun Jonah Placid who returns to Australia after a two-year stint with French Top 14 club Toulon.
The 24-year-old fullback is part of a rare group of players who have been called-up to represent Australia in the U20’s World Championship for three consecutive years before graduating into the Super Rugby ranks.
Placid developed his game in Queensland before being swooped on by the Melbourne Rebels where he became the club’s youngest player in 2015. He spent three seasons with the Rebels before heading to France and linking up with Toulon.
Placid met his new team-mates and joined training today, less than 24 hours after jetting into Perth from Europe. While understandably still recovering from the long flight, he said it was great to get onto the field and start to build his chemistry with the team.
“I remember playing against the Force and the tough battle they always put up. It’s really good to be on this side of the fence now,” Placid said.
“I can’t wait to try Rapid Rugby, a fast game is a good game.”
Head Coach Tim Sampson is eager to try out the versatile outside back, calling him an “exciting player to watch.”
“Jonah, at just 24-years of age, has a significant amount of experience behind him having played Australian U20’s, then getting picked up by the Rebels and then Toulon,” Sampson said.
“He was keen to get back into Australian rugby and our strong professional program here in Western Australia appealed to him.
“I have coached Jonah previously and he is a player who can light up a game. He has natural ability and great instinct, is dynamic and strong in the contact areas. He has a pretty solid all-round game,” Sampson added.
Placid is in line to make his Western Force debut in the final match of the 2019 Global Rapid Rugby Showcase Series on August 9 against Malaysia Valke at HBF Park. The match is part of a huge weekend of rugby in Perth, being played less than 24 hours before the Wallabies and All Blacks go head to head in the first-ever Bledisloe Cup clash to be played in Western Australia.
Click here to view Jonah’s profile.
