The South Sydney Rabbitohs will welcome home representative centre Beau Champion to the Club for the 2013 and 2014 seasons, having signed the South Sydney junior to a two-year contract today. Champion, 26, will rejoin his junior Club following one season with the Gold Coast Titans, one season with the Melbourne Storm and a previous six-year stint with the Rabbitohs. Champion has played 95 NRL matches including 70 for the Rabbitohs to date, represented the Indigenous All Stars in seasons 2010 and 2011, and City Origin in the same years. Champion is very excited to be returning to the Rabbitohs this year. “I’m over the moon at having the opportunity to return to South Sydney, the Club where my career began, the team which I supported as a kid, and the Club which I’ve always dreamed of playing for,” Champion said. “I appreciate everything the people at the Titans and Storm have done for me over the past two years, and I think my time at both Clubs have made me a better player and better person. “However now that an opportunity has come up to rejoin Souths, I can’t miss the chance to return to the Club. “The Club has taken some big strides forward since I was last there and I’m looking forward to being part of a renewed South Sydney and representing the district and the Members once again.” Rabbitohs Head Coach Michael Maguire is pleased to be adding Champion’s skill and experience to the Rabbitohs’ backline in 2013. “Beau is a very experienced NRL player who has the South Sydney team and the Club as his central focus,” Maguire said. “He understands what we’re trying to achieve here and the culture we’re building, and we’re very happy to be able to add a player of his ability to our squad at this stage of the pre-season. “Beau’s inclusion to our squad increases the challenge for spots in our first grade team, which is always good for performance and team development. “Beau is South Sydney through-and-through and we’re sure he will produce some of his best football with us over the next two seasons and beyond.” Titans Coach John Cartwright said the club understood Champion’s desire to return to Souths and wished him all the best. "I think most people agree that you play your best football where you are happy and after sitting down and talking with Beau about this opportunity to go back to Souths, we fully understand his reasons why," said Cartwright. "His home is Redfern and he wanted to go so we wish him all the best for the future."

Biography:

Name: Beau Champion
DOB: 23 December 1986
Junior Club: South Eastern Seagulls
Position: Centre
Height: 188cm
Weight: 96kg
NRL Games: 95 (70 for the Rabbitohs, 16 for the Storm, 9 for the Titans)
NRL Points: 190 (45 tries; 5 goals)
NRL Debut: Rabbitohs vs Sharks, Sydney Football Stadium, 8/7/05 (Rd 18)
Rep Games: Two games for Indigenous All Stars (2010-11); two games for City Origin (2010-11)
Prev. Clubs: Rabbitohs (2005-10); Storm (2011); Titans (2012)