How a Kiwi helped an Aussie 'disconnect' from life in French rugby
Moving to the other side of the world as a teenager can’t be easy, but that’s exactly what Australian Miles Amatosero did in 2020 after knocking back the chance to join the NSW Waratahs’ Academy.
Amatosero, now 21, said au revoir to life in Australia after penning a deal with French Top 14 side ASM Clermont Auvergne. It was a brave move for someone so young to make, and one that presented its fair share of challenges.
With a new language to learn and culture to adopt, the young Australian had to navigate life in France without the guidance of loved ones who remained home in Sydney.
But learning to manage the challenges of life away from rugby in France meant first embracing the connections, friendships and comradery that the Clermont academy offered.
Amatosero found an ally and friend in New Zealander Edward Annandale. The pair became quite close as they found comfort in the familiarity they offered one another a long way from home.
“You really get close with one or two people,” Amatosero told RugbyPass.
“I went into the academy and the academy at the time didn’t have many foreigners in it, and the foreigners that they did have were like Fijian who didn’t speak English or maybe a Georgian that doesn’t speak English.
“I was lucky enough to have a Kiwi who’s the same age as me. He was seriously my good mate for a while… we’re in the same boat. We’d leave training and be like, ‘What are you doing?’ Hanging out and just trying to disconnect from it all.
“Especially having something familiar, even though it’s not an Australian, having a Kiwi there, it’s close enough.
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“Early on, those few friendships I made with a couple of people were really big because if you’re not lucky and you go to an academy that has zero foreigners – because it’s not like you just want to disconnect from work, you want to disconnect from France and French.
“It can become a lot if you’re speaking French all day, trying to… you want to sort of disconnect from it, same with work.
“My relationships with a few key mates were really important,” Amatosero added. “When I moved into the professional environment there were a lot more foreigners, a lot more people speaking English.
“Honestly, if I was in the academy for the entire three years I don’t think I would’ve made it.”
Annandale, 23, left Clermont and returned home to New Zealand last year. The hulking second-rower played a handful of games for Auckland – including the NPC quarter-final defeat to Canterbury – and has joined the Blues’ wider squad for 2024.
It’s a promising move for the young Kiwi, who left the French club before his Australian teammate had the chance to return home, too.
Amatosero is back in Australia now. The lock was a big-name signing – both in stature and reputation – for the Waratahs ahead of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
The Tahs recruit is the tallest player in the squad by a decent margin. Amatosero is impossible to miss walking around the teams’ training facilities in Sydney – he’s just that tall.
But his decision to return after three years away was one that clearly meant a lot to him. Amatosero couldn’t stop smiling as he spoke about the opportunity to come back Down Under.
Amatosero is one of the most exciting young prospects in Australian rugby at the moment, and he’s already signalled an intent and desire to one day don Wallaby gold.
“I’m trying to not make it so much of a dream, I’m trying to make it a reality,” Amatosero said.
“I’m staying confident in what I’m doing… just getting better every day. If that means Wallabies that means Wallabies, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.
“Of course, that’s the dream, that’s the end goal that I want to play for the Wallabies.
“A huge (goal) for me is being the best player that I can be and hopefully that means the best lock in the world.”
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
3 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
1 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
3 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to comments