Horwitz makes Barbarians debut
The opportunity to represent the famous international invitational rugby team, The Barbarians, for the first time has been "an amazing experience" for new Melbourne Rebels recruit David Horwitz.
THE opportunity to represent the famous international invitational rugby team, The Barbarians, for the first time has been “an amazing experience” for new Melbourne Rebels recruit David Horwitz.
The 23-year-old former NSW Waratahs back played in the Baa Baas’ thrilling 27-24 win against a Classic Wallabies side on October 24 in Lismore, a fixture that raised funds for the Lismore Flood Appeal.
Known for playing an entertaining style of rugby, the Barbarians scored five tries to four against a team made up mostly of former Wallabies, including Lote Tuqiri, Drew Mitchell and Morgan Turinui.
Although overlooked for the Barbarians in their narrow 31-28 loss against the Wallabies in Sydney four days later in favour of All Blacks centre George Moala, Horwitz said it was a privilege to play in the iconic black and white strip, under the mentorship of former Wallabies coaching legend Alan Jones.
“Playing for the Barbarians, you get to pick the brains of some of the brightest minds in Australian and international rugby,” Horwitz told The AJN on Monday.
“It was a rare opportunity to be in the same squad as players like Quade Cooper, and to be coached by one of Australia’s greatest [Jones].
“It was a team environment in which players were really encouraged to express themselves, to play a positive and entertaining style of rugby and to chance their arm a bit more, which is easier said than done.
“It was an amazing experience to be part of that.”
Horwitz, the brother of Maccabi Rugby Club’s 2017 Player of the Year Sam Horwitz, will now turn his attention back to pre-
season training at his new club, having moved from Sydney to Melbourne five weeks ago.
“It’s the first time I’ve moved away from home, but I’m settling in okay and finding my way around – I’m even doing the washing,” he quipped.
“Joining a new club, under a new coach [David Wessels] – it’s been great to look at new ways of going about things at training.
“He [Wessels] has gelled all the players together well in a short space of time.
“From my end, I’m trying to share my experience [in Super Rugby] with the younger members of the squad, and contribute in that way too.”
SHANE DESIATNIK
comments