'Hopefully, this isn’t the end': Len Ikitau adds to growing speculation

Wallabies superstar Len Ikitau has confirmed that his agent has opened talks with Exeter Chiefs for a second spell at Sandy Park when his contract with Rugby Australia ends following the 2027 World Cup.

The outside centre, who is on a £400k season-long sabbatical with the Chiefs, has scored two tries in eight games and is starting to fire again after missing four months of the season following a shoulder operation late last year.

Ikitau, 27, says he is just sitting back and hoping that everything for his return late next year falls into place, but would consider all options, like a move to France, as he looks to secure financial security for his family.

“As much as I would love to stay, I’ve got a contract that I need to honour, and I guess I’m going back to Australia. I think, looking towards the end of 2027, there’s a potential chance of coming back if everything falls into place. I’ve loved my time here. My family have enjoyed it.

“Hopefully, this isn’t the end. I think it’s just been going on behind the scenes with my manager. Obviously, I told him how much I’ve really enjoyed my time here, and that, if there was any possibility of coming back, would he look into it, and I think it’s just on his shoulders.

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“Obviously, there are a lot of good centres that are coming through at the club, some young boys like Wimbo (Zack Wimbush) and then some players that are coming from different clubs like Dallas McLeod, and Will Butt.

“So I think it’s just kind of sitting back and waiting to be honest. I’m hoping that everything falls into place. But if it doesn’t, then it doesn’t, but I’ve really enjoyed my time here. It’s been awesome.

“I’ve got to keep all my options open, to be honest, like an option to come back. I’m 27, and I’m getting older, and I’ve got family that I need to look after, and if that’s the best thing for me, then I’ll kind of follow that path whichever way it takes me,” he said.

The last time Ikitau played at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium in November 2024, his “no looker” pass for Max Jorgensen secured a 42-37 victory for Australia, and he is keen to walk through it before this weekend’s game with Harlequins with team-mate Henry Slade.

Ikitau will find another familiar face waiting for him in South-West London Quins head coach Jason Gilmore, whom he rates as one of the best he has worked with.

“I was on the Wallabies under-20s, and he was the coach, and to be fair, he’s still one of the best coaches that I’ve had in terms of knowledge and bringing the group together.

“I did enjoy my time with Gilly, and it would be nice to catch up with him and hopefully have a beer after the game. Obviously, what made that last game at Twickenham special was the win.

“We’re actually going up to Twickenham tomorrow, so I might go out to that pitch and walk through it with Henry Slade because he was defending when we scored. I might go through the play with him. We will see how we go,” Ikitau laughs mischievously.