The Plus500 Brumbies are pleased to announce the signing of lock Richie Arnold, twin brother of Rory, on a two-year deal that will keep him with the side until the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season.
Arnold was born in Wagga Wagga and raised in Murwillumbah on the Far North Coast of NSW, he attended Murwillumbah High School and played junior rugby league until the age of 16.
Standing at an imposing 208cm tall, Arnold began playing with local club the Murwillumbah Bananas before moving north to play with Bond University in the Queensland Premier Grade competition.
Arnold was quickly picked up by Queensland Country for the 2015 National Rugby Championship.
Despite mixed results as a team Arnold personally impressed in limited action, being rewarded with a Super Rugby contract by the Western Force for the 2016 season.
After an injury derailed first season in Perth, Arnold finally made his Super Rugby debut in 2017 for the Force, showing great physicality and set piece ability in seven appearances for the side.
Brumbies Head Coach Dan McKellar said he was pleased to have a player of Arnold’s calibre linking up with the Brumbies.
“We are very happy to have secured the signature of Richie for the Super Rugby season,” McKellar said.“He has developed nicely over the last couple of years in the Force program. His physicality and set-piece work are the main strengths of his game and he offers us extra depth in that lock position.
“Richie enjoyed a standout National Rugby Championship with the Perth Spirit and will be a great addition to the squad.”
Arnold said he was ecstatic to be linking up with his brother at the Brumbies.
“It’s very exciting to be joining the Brumbies and linking up with Rory at such a fantastic club.” Arnold said.
"Obviously I have heard great things about the club from my brother and about the cultures, values and traditions of the Brumbies and I am looking forward to playing my part in the forthcoming Super Rugby campaign.“The NRC was a good tournament for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the competition with the Perth Spirit and my time spent in Super Rugby with the Force. I am now looking ahead to a new start in Canberra and am raring to get started.”
The Plus500 Brumbies pre-season campaign kicks off on Saturday 3 February with a trial match against the Rebels at Seiffert Oval in Queanbeyan.
PROFILE
Name Richie Arnold
DOB 1/7/1990
Place of Birth Wagga Wagga, NSW
Height 208cm
Weight 127kg
Position Lock
CLUBS
YEAR TEAM CAPS POINTS
2015 Queensland Country (NRC) – –
2016-17 Western Force (Super Rugby) 8 5
2016-17 Perth Spirit (NRC) – –
