Kort Schubert, the captain of the USA Eagles team, will today join the Cardiff Blues squad in preparation for the new season.
The 25-year-old back rower flies into Heathrow Airport and will then link up with director of coaching David Young and the players who are currently in a training camp in the Midlands.
Speaking from the camp this morning, Young said,
We have been monitoring Korts progress and performances in recent months and the signs are that he is going to be a valuable acquisition. Players like Dan Baugh and John Tait have crossed the Atlantic before him and become great favourites at the Arms Park. Kort is following in their footsteps. He has a wealth of international experience in a formidable back row alongside Dave Hodges and Dan Lyle and we are delighted that he has signed a contract with us.
We will integrate him into our training on Thursday and my intention at the moment is to give him some game time against Worcester on Friday evening.
Chief executive Robert Norster added,
This new signing is an important one for us. Not only is Kort a quality player in his own right but he also arrives at a time when we have one or two injuries in the back row. Dan Baugh has had surgery on his foot during the close season and is currently unavailable for selection while one of our most promising youngsters, James Malpas, is recovering from a shoulder operation. Added to that Rob Appleyard will be concentrating on his coaching commitments within the Blues Academy and is likely to play most of his rugby for the Cardiff club side. So Korts arrival at this time is doubly welcome.
Kort Schubert has won 36 test caps for the Eagles, including four in the 2003 Rugby World Cup when he scored three tries. He toured New Zealand as a junior in 1998 and led the All-American team to Ireland three years ago. Having first captained the Eagles in a full test against Argentina in 2003 he was appointed leader again this summer and was at the helm against France in Hartford last month when the Eagles lost narrowly 31-39 to the Tricolours.
Fact File
Full name: Kort Smith Schubert
Born: Sacramento, California 24 July 1979
Height: 1.90
Weight: 230 lbs
Previous club: UC Berkeley