The Melbourne Rebels are continuing to bolster their backline with the signing of Waratahs winger Cam Crawford.

The Super Rugby club also announced this week they had lured Australian under 20s fullback Jonah Placid from the Queensland Reds.

Crawford, 25, will join the Rebels next season on a two-year deal.

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He started his career with the Brumbies, with injuries stalling his progress although a move to NSW in 2013 saw his tryscoring tally rocket.

Melbourne coach Tony McGahan said he had his eye on Crawford for the past year.

“We have certainly done our homework on Cam, and have been tracking him for well over 12 months,” McGahan said.

“We recognise what a good player he is, and he was recognised by the Wallaby selectors last year; he would have been involved in some capacity if he didn’t get injured.”

Joining a very young backline, McGahan believed Crawford would bring much more experience than his 12 Super Rugby games suggested.

“Cam has been at the Brumbies when they were starting to rebuild their program, and then he went to the Waratahs when they were re-building their program and now we’re in a similar situation; he’ll bring a lot of experience in regards to that.”



Crawford, who played with Rebels flanker Colby Faingaa at the Brumbies, felt he was joining the Rebels at the right time.

“Coming down (to see the Club) was really eye-opening for me and you can tell they are doing all the right things to try and change the culture and get the right results,” Crawford said.

“That might not have happened on the field this year, but it feels like it is close and I’m pretty sure next year can be really positive.”