Ben Donaldson inks new deal as Wallabies re-signing spree continues

Ben Donaldson has re-committed to Australian rugby through to the upcoming Rugby World Cup on home soil, with the 16-Test Wallaby signing a new deal with Rugby Australia and the Western Force until the end of 2027.

This update comes less than 24 hours after Rugby Australia revealed fellow Force star Carlo Tizzano had also put pen to paper on an extension. Fraser McReight, Tom Wright, Harry Wilson, Jeremy Williams and Jake Gordon are other Wallabies who have done the same.

Donaldson has played 12 matches for the Force in Super Rugby Pacific this season and has been named at fly-half ahead of the team’s final home match of the campaign against the NSW Waratahs at Perth’s HBF Park.

Having made the move out west from the Tahs before the 2024 season, Donaldson has gone on to become an integral part of the Force’s squad. In the first round of this season, Donaldson’s individual brilliance helped the Force snatch a dramatic win over Moana Pasifika.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt also selected Donaldson on nine occasions last year, including a couple of starts against Georgia in Sydney and an away Test in Argentina. As an important player for both club and country, this re-signing is significant for Australian rugby.

“I’m extremely excited to re-commit to the Western Force and Australian Rugby,” Donaldson said in a statement.

“I’ve been here two years now and loved my time in WA. We’ve got a great group of boys at the Force with the core having signed on for several more years which is exciting about where we can go as a group.

“I’m delighted to be staying in Australian rugby with the Lions Tour later year as well as a Bledisloe Cup here in Perth. There’s obviously also the lure of the home 2027 World Cup, which is extremely motivating.

“I’ve been part of the Wallabies squad in recent times and it’s a strong group with a good coaching unit, so hopefully I continue to be part of that moving forward with those big games and events to come.”

Donaldson came through the representative pathway in Australia, playing for the nation at Schools, U20s and ‘A’ levels before graduating to the Wallabies in 2022. The fly-half/fullback went on to play four matches at the 2023 Rugby World Cup under then coach Eddie Jones.

With a strong kicking game and an electric burst of pace, Donaldson has featured in a number of highlights during Super Rugby Pacific in 2025. ‘Dono’ scored 20 points in the opening round win over Moana, and backed that up with a 13-point haul a week later in Canberra.

Throughout the entire season, Donaldson has stood tall time and time again for the Force, with the No. 10 playing a key role in the team’s rise into the top six earlier in the campaign.

“Ben is a good young player and a strong example of the Australian Rugby pathways system at work,” Rugby Australia Director of High Performance Peter Horne explained.

“He’s earned good experience at both Super Rugby Pacific and Test level in recent years and we’re looking forward to watching him continue to work hard and develop his game.”

Western Force coach Simon Cron added: “It’s great to have Dono stay on. He’s a big part of our squad, big part of our team.

“He’s a leader in our group and a core member of driving the Western Force forward.

“I know he’s disappointed, like I am, about some of the close games this year, but if we can keep the core playing group together, it’s going to hold us in great stead moving forward.

“Most importantly he’s an amazing human who continues to thrive in WA and we’re looking forward to helping him continue his journey both with us and the Wallabies.”