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Trying out Noriega set to face Lions for Western Australia
SYDNEY (Reuters) -- Former Wallaby Patricio Noriega is expected to play for Western Australia against the British and Irish Lions in the tourist's opening match on June 8 in Perth. The Wallabies are keen to give the Argentine-born prop a game after his recent return from playing club rugby in France, an Australian Rugby Union (ARU) spokesman said Wednesday. Queensland Reds winger Ben Tune -- who scored Australia's first try in the World Cup final of 1999 -- is also a possible inclusion although he is battling with a shoulder injury. "People like Ben Tune, we're looking to get him to play, and Noriega," the spokesman said. Western Australian rugby officials said they were negotiating with the ARU for up to three Wallabies to play for the state side against the Lions. Australia go into training camp this weekend and will name a team next week for the warm-up match against New Zealand Maoris in Sydney on June 9. Noriega, 29, played 22 tests for Argentina before playing the first of his nine tests for Australia in 1998. He was part of Australia's World Cup-winning squad a year later, but suffered a shoulder injury before the opening pool match. Noriega, who played for the ACT Brumbies in the Super 12 last year, signed a three-year contract with Australian rivals the New South Wales Waratahs last week. Brumbies prop Bill Young withdrew from Australia's squad Monday after failing a medical on his injured knee, which was found to have a fracture. He will be out of action for up to eight weeks. The Lions depart for Australia on Friday. Their first test against Australia is in Brisbane on June 30.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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