Johansson – our first Victorian Rebel!
The RaboDirect Rebels are pleased to announce the signing of its first Victorian player Lloyd Johansson.
A former Wallaby, the centre played for the Queensland Reds from 2005-2008, before joining Viadana (Italy) and most recently the Honda Heat (Japan).
Johansson scored a try within 2 minutes of his debut for the Wallabies in the 2005 Bledisloe Cup.
The 26 year old has returned to Melbourne after taking part in the Rebels Development Tour of the UK and Ireland earlier this year.
Johansson played his junior rugby with the Harlequin and Box Hill Rugby Clubs in Melbourne.
He went on to represent the Victorian under 14 state side (1999) and the Victorian under 16 state side (2000-2001), he was also selected in the Australian under 16 side.
In 2002 Johansson received a scholarship to the Southport School in Queensland and represented the Australian Schoolboys team from 2002 to 2003.
RaboDirect Rebels Head Coach Damien Hill said today that he hoped Johansson would forge a path for future Victorian players.
“Lloyd has plied his trade in Australia and overseas but now he has the chance to play professional rugby in his home town of Melbourne. He has a great combination of speed and power which will add another dimension to our midfield. We hope that Lloyd will be the first of many Victorians playing Super Rugby for the RaboDirect Rebels,” Hill said.
In other news, the Rebels have also announced the signings of young forwards Paul Alo-Emile (Western Force) and James King (Blues).
Prop Alo-Emile is an Australian schoolboys and under 20’s representative who impressed in the IRB Junior World Championships in Argentina (2010) and Italy (2011).
Head Coach Damien Hill said that Alo-Emile was an exciting young talent.
“Paul is one of the young up and coming props in Australia and he is an important signing for the club. We also see him playing a key role with some of the young Pacific Islander players we have coming through our development squads.
24 year old lock James King made his debut for North Harbour in 2007 and played 4 Super Rugby games for the Blues in 2011.
RaboDirect Rebels Head Coach Damien Hill said that King will add depth to the Rebels pack.
“James is a tall athletic second rower who can also play at blindside flanker. He showed good form for the Blues in the Super Rugby competition and for North Harbour in the 2011 ITM Cup. At 24 years of age we believe his best rugby is ahead of him.
“We are thrilled to have secured all of these players, the signings of Alo-Emile and King fit in well with our policy of introducing more youth into the side. While at 26 years of age Lloyd Johansson has already played at the highest level and he has plenty to offer the Rebels,” Hill said.
