STATISTICS Date of Birth: 30/01/1980 Height: 190cm Weight: 103kg Position: Inside Centre, Fly Half Super 14 Debut: 2001 vs. Cats, Johannesburg Super 14 Caps: 36 Super 14 Points: 35 Playing History: • 2010 – Western Force • 2009 – Western Force • 2008 – 09 – Honda Heat Rugby • 2007 – 08 – NSW Waratahs • 2006 – West Tigers • 2003 – 05 – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles • 2001 – 02 – NSW Waratahs Representative Honours: • 2004 – City Origin • 2002 – Australia A Awards: • 2005 – Warringah Rats (Team of the last 40 years) • 2000 – Ken Catchpole Award PROFILE Sam Harris was born in Auckland but raised on the beautiful northern beaches of Sydney. In his childhood Sam loved all sports, however he had a passion for rugby where he played both codes until the age of 17. It was in these junior years where Sam developed and refined his skills to become a explosive ball runner with a devastating offload. However Sam did not want to be a one dimensional player, so he worked hard on all aspects of his game to also be a stout, punishing, and relentless defender. This possesses Sam with great versatility required for the modern game. After winning All Australian Honours as a junior it wasn‟t until a stellar season with the Warringah Rats in 2000 where Sam got his big break, by securing a contract with the NSW Waratahs. This stellar season saw Sam awarded with the Ken Catchpole Medal for being the best player in the Sydney club rugby competition. Two great years with the Waratahs and two Australia A caps later Sam was head hunted by the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles to switch codes, which he readily accepted. Initially he found the transition of codes difficult but the experience would prove invaluable as it instilled that hard work pays off. After a slow start to his debut season, Sam finished strongly and earned himself a city origin guernsey at the halfway point of the following season. After four sensational years playing league, Sam was yet again itching for the next challenge which he found back at the NSW Waratahs. At the Waratahs he was given license to use his attacking flair, mainly playing centre or filling in at fly half. However after one season, Sam was approached by Japanese club Honda Heat to play permanently at fly half. Sam accepted this contract as it allowed him to play in a position he excelled and also provided the opportunity for he and his wife Hannah to experience another culture. Sam had a solid debut season where he showed experience both on field in his performance and also off field where he drove to get the best out of his team mates. This led to the Honda Heat being promoted to Japan‟s top division for the first time in the clubs 10 year history. In 2010, Sam was picked up by the Western Force but has found it difficult raising his new born twins in the Western parts of Australia. Sam is looking at any options that may arise on the East coast in regards to a playing contract. PROFILE CONT. Outside of rugby Sam enjoys a variety of sports including golf, basketball, and surfing. Sam is seeking the next challenge after Rugby which he believes lies in Coaching once he finally hangs up the boots. PRESS RELEASE JULY 2009 EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE SIGN EX-WARATAHS AND AUSTRALIA ‘A’ BACK SAM HARRIS The Emirates Western Force has signed powerful former Waratahs and City Origin rugby league back Sam Harris to a one-year contract. The 29-year-old joins the WA side after steering Japanese outfit Honda Heat into the top division for the first time in the club‟s 10-year history with a standout campaign from flyhalf. Born in Auckland, Harris was raised on Sydney‟s northern beaches and played both rugby codes until age 17, before electing to concentrate on the 15-man game. After winning the Ken Catchpole Medal in 2000 whilst playing for Warringah, Harris was snapped up by the Waratahs and won 13 caps in his first two seasons of Super Rugby and broke into the representative arena in 2002 playing twice for Australia „A‟. Blessed with the size and strength of a back rower and the ball-playing ability to cover the inside backs positions he attracted interest from both codes the following season, before decided to chance his arm in the NRL. In four seasons in rugby league, three of those with the Manly Sea Eagles, Harris made 64 first grade appearances and represented City in the annual clash with Country in 2004. But after a final year with Wests Tigers, the versatile back returned to the Waratahs to play the 2007 and 2008 seasons before shifting to Japan and moving out of his customary inside centre role and into flyhalf. Returning to play his trade with Warringah this year, the 103kg back has continued in the number 10 jersey where he has formed a lethal partnership with Force-bound scrumhalf Brett Sheehan. Harris said he has enjoyed the extra burden of performing the pivotal playmaker role. “I was kind of pushed into (flyhalf) originally when „Hangers‟ (Daniel Halangahu) and Kurtley (Beale) were injured during my last year with the Waratahs, but I played full time in the position with Honda and probably now consider it my best position,” said Harris. “My communication is certainly a strength and I‟ve enjoyed getting my hands on the ball more often, whereas in the past I‟ve probably been more comfortable at inside centre,” he said. Harris, whose wife Hannah is expecting twins in September, said he was looking forward to joining a „family‟ orientated team. “One of the main attractions of the Western Force is that most of the squad have come from the east and have settled over in Perth in close proximity to each other,” he said. “At the Waratahs it was a bit different, where the boys would travel in from all parts of Sydney and return home straight after training. I think in Perth there will be the opportunity to spend more time with the team which gives you the opportunity to build a closer-knit culture.” Harris, who began playing with Warringah teammate Sheehan at age 10, said he was looking forward to linking with several close mates in WA. “The Force has a strong Warringah flavour but I‟m also really good mates with Matty Dunning and I went to primary school with Haig Sare,” he said. RugbyWA General Manager, Rugby, Mitch Hardy said Harris brings experience and versatility to the Emirates Western Force squad. “Sam has impressive resume in both rugby codes and has played representative level rugby for Australia A, so he brings on board plenty of experience,” said Hardy. “He‟s a very strong man and has that directness which enables him to play in both centres positions, but is also a creative player who has had a lot of success at flyhalf during his recent stint in Japan and at club level for Warringah,” he said. “Having that skill-set and experience makes Sam a very valuable addition to our 2010 squad.” Hardy also praised Harris‟ Management company, IMG, for their swift handling of the contracting process. “The negotiations were seamless and we‟ve turned Sam‟s contract around very quickly, which is thanks to both Sam and his manager, Richard Colreavy.”.