Australia’s annus horribilis simply received worse after it was confirmed that star Wallabies and Waratahs winger Mark Nawaqanitawase will depart rugby union to hitch NRL outfit the Sydney Roosters in 2025.
The 23-year-old knowledgeable Rugby Australia (RA) that he can be leaving the 15-a-side code on the finish of 2025 after he signed a one-year contract extension with the governing physique and his Sydney-based membership earlier this yr.
Roosters delighted with new acquisition
The Sydney Roosters confirmed the information through their official web site with he membership’s head of recruitment, Daniel Anderson, saying: “We’re delighted to have secured Mark’s providers and look ahead to welcoming him to our membership in 2025.
“Within the meantime, we want him all one of the best for a profitable 2024 in rugby union.”
In the meantime RA chief government Phil Waugh expressed his disappointment in Nawaqanitawase‘s choice.
“We’re disillusioned – Mark has been a powerful participant over the past 12 months,” he mentioned in a press release. “Nevertheless, the surface backs are a place of power for us, with nice depth coming by.
“We’re assured we’re well-stocked with proficient wingers for the longer term.”
Nawaqanitawase burst onto the scene at Tremendous Rugby stage for the Waratahs in 2020 and made his worldwide debut in a 28-27 loss to Italy in Florence throughout the Wallabies‘ end-of-year tour of Europe in 2022.
Since then, he has established himself in Australia’s first selection beginning line-up and has already received 11 Take a look at caps.
Impressed throughout the World Cup
Nawaqanitawase was one of many Wallabies’ standout performers throughout their latest woeful Rugby World Cup marketing campaign in France the place they did not advance to the worldwide showpiece’s knockout rounds for the primary time within the event’s historical past.
He represented his nation in six matches in 2023 and scored tries within the Wallabies’ first two matches on the Rugby World Cup in opposition to Georgia and Fiji.
His departure to rugby league is offset by the arrival of Joseph Suaalii, who’s becoming a member of the Waratahs in 2025, together with Sydney Roosters team-mate and Fijian rugby league worldwide Vuate Karawalevu, who performed in Waratahs’ latest trials in opposition to New South Wales Pacifica.
Nawaqanitawase is anticipated to go away the door open for a return to rugby union in time for the 2027 Rugby World Cup which can be held in Australia.
READ MORE: Extremely-rated younger front-row places his hand up for Wallabies captaincy function
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