Rugby

Bartholomeusz Looking Forward

Monday 8th February 2010

Author: Riley Stuart

Photographer: Riley Stuart

Mark Bartholomeusz is certainly no stranger to Super Rugby, playing as fly half, or running out with a new club.

But just four days out from the Western Force’s blockbuster Super 14 season opener, nothing could have prepared him for this.

The 32-year-old, who was lured back to Australia by the Force late last year after a successful European career, has spent his preseason being groomed as a second-fiddle number 10.

But a season ending injury to marquee international signing, and fellow Force newcomer Andre Pretorius has thrust Bartholomeusz into the limelight, and most likely, the starting 15.

‘I’ve been training there since we started in November,’ Bartholomeusz said on Monday.

‘Along with Andre, we’ve been working together with the squad, so it’s not foreign from the point of view of fitting into the team framework that’s for sure.’

The injury to Pretorius came as cruel blow to the WA club, whose playing roster saw an incredible fifteen changes during an offseason cleanout. 

Bartholomeusz was one of those, who joined the Force after stints with English premiership side Saracens, Irish club Ulster and Italy's Petrarca Padova.

‘I think when I agreed to join the Western Force my role could be a variety of different things.’ he said.

‘This (fly half) was potentially one of them, and it might come up earlier rather than later.’

European sojourns aside, Bartholomeusz will certainly not be out of place in Super Rugby, where he played 68 games for the ACT.

The veteran has also lined up for the Wallabies, in 2002, albeit not for very long.

His 2 minutes and 33 second international career began and ended with a 34 -3 victory over Italy in Genova. 

Ironically, his last Super appearance was in the Brumbies championship victory over Canerbury, two years later.

At that time, Australia did not yet know whether its fourth union franchise would be in Melbourne, or Perth.

The stage is set for new beginnings, as Bartholomeusz returns against his former side, in an intriguing time for West Australian rugby.

‘That’s one of the things we spoke about earlier in the season, this is almost like a new start for us, starting at Members Equity Stadium.’ Bartholomeusz said.

‘The playing group has chanced significantly since last year as well, so hopefully we can put in a good performance on Friday night.’