Scotland scrum-half Chris Cusiter to play in Australia
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Scotland scrum-half Chris Cusiter has has gone to Australian club rugby for a month in order to boost his fitness for the World Cup in September.
The Glasgow player returned from a year-long knee injury in for the last few games of the Magners League season.
He will be available to play a maximum of four games for the Southern Districts club in Sydney.
"I really need more game time and be as sharp as I can to be in with a chance of World Cup selection," said Cusiter.
The 52-times capped Warriors man missed the Six Nations campaign because of the knee injury he picked up at the end of last season.
"I've had three games back with Glasgow and need to work on my match fitness," he added.
"The Sydney club rugby competition is very strong and hopefully I'll be able to play four games and learn a bit from the experience."
Cusiter's short stint in Australia met with the approval of his Glasgow head coach Sean Lineen and the Scotland head coach Andy Robinson.
Lineen said: "It's been great having Chris back for Glasgow but the end of our season has come at the wrong time for him.
"Like any player he has huge desire to play in the Rugby World Cup and he goes to Australia with our blessing as he seeks to build on his match fitness."
Robinson agreed: "I applaud Chris's initiative here. He is striving to be in the best physical and mental shape he can be and attuned to the intensity a scrum-half faces, with the challenges that lie ahead later this year at the Rugby World Cup."
The 28-year-old could make his debut for Southern Districts on Saturday 14 May against Sydney University.
