Harrison to return in January

Rugby:Former Wallaby Justin Harrison will return to Australia for the new Super 14 season after being handed a lifeline by the ACT Brumbies.

The 35-year-old is currently serving an eight-month suspension after admitting to three drug-related charges while playing for English Premiership club Bath.

Harrison was banned in July for “actions which are prejudicial to the interests of the game”.

He admitted taking a prohibited substance during an end-of-season celebration in London and of subsequently failing to submit to a drugs test.

The suspension was back-dated to May 14th, the day Harrison resigned from Bath and withdrew from the Barbarians tour.

He will be available to play for the Brumbies from January 13th, 2010. Harrison trained with the Canberra-based club for the first time on Monday morning and hopes to have an immediate impact on his new team-mates.

“After finishing up with Bath, I sat down and ranked the countries and clubs I wanted to play with,” he said. “I listed the Brumbies at number one even though it was an unlikely scenario at the time.

“Now that I’m here I couldn’t be happier. It’s an environment I know very well and is backed up by quality coaching staff and administration.

“I loved being a part of this community and I know that this is the best place in the world for me to be playing my rugby.”