The Waratahs have added some much needed depth to their tight-five stocks with the recruitment of New Zealand-born second rower Cam Jowitt for the 2010 Super 14 season.
Jowitt, who has spent the past four seasons with reigning European Champions Leinster, will arrive in Sydney later this month after completing the 2009 season with New Zealand provincial side Northland.
At 201cm, the 26-year-old will be used primarily as a lock but is also capable of filling in at blindside flanker if required.
"We're a lot more comfortable with our forwards now that we've been able to secure Cam Jowitt for 2010," coach Chris Hickey said.
"His addition will further strengthen our forward pack next season."
"We feel we're in a stronger situation to 2009 and we're confident the increased second row depth will further improve our tight five."
Jowitt, a veteran of 70 provincial caps with Auckland (3), Leinster (57) and Northland (10), joins Will Caldwell, Chris Thomson, and former Emerging Springbok Hendrik Roodt as specialist second rowers in the squad, while current Wallabies tourist Dean Mumm also has the ability to play as a blindside flanker or lock.
"Will Caldwell and Dean Mumm did a great job for us in 2009, but we needed to strengthen the team in the lock position to cover for possible injury," Hickey said.
"The depth we have now is certainly going to provide some selection headaches, but they're the type of headaches you like to have as a coach."
A New Zealand Schools representative in 2001, Jowitt went on to represent New Zealand Universities in 2003 before making his NPC debut for Auckland in 2004.
In 2005 Jowitt was signed to Irish side Leinster where he played 57 matches in four seasons alongside players such as Irish internationals Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy and Malcolm O’Kelly, and former Waratahs Chris Whitaker and Rocky Elsom.
Following the 2008/09 Heineken Cup and Magners League seasons, Jowitt returned to New Zealand where he played in the Air New Zealand Cup for Northland.
Due to his Australian ancestry, Jowitt does not require exemption to play for New South Wales under either the developing foreign player or marquee player rules.