Reports: Japanese clubs eye up Wallabies and Brumbies stars
The Wallabies and Brumbies could be set for a double-whammy of player departures following reports of interest in two of their key men from Japanese clubs.
The two players in question are experienced halfback Nic White and promising first-five Noah Lolesio, both of whom are reported to be in the sights of teams from Japan’s League One competition.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, White has been offered a seven-figure sum by a Japanese team that is looking to acquire 31-year-old ahead of next year’s campaign.
Should White take the reported offer, he would jeopardise his place in the Wallabies squad at next year’s World Cup in France following adjustments made by Rugby Australia [RA] to its eligibility rules for offshore-based players.
Wallabies boss Dave Rennie can now only pick three overseas-based players – who have played at least 30 tests and played domestically in Australia for a minimum of five years – in each squad he selects per tournament, series or tour.
As such, White would compete with the likes of Kintetsu Liners first-five Quade Cooper, Suntory Sungoliath midfielder Samu Kerevi and Panasonic Wild Knights wing Marika Koroibete for one of three allocated places in the Wallabies set-up.
Lured back to Australia from English Premiership club Exeter Chiefs by former Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika ahead of the 2019 World Cup, White has featured prominently for the Wallabies since his homecoming.
A veteran of 47 tests, White has partaken in 25 of the 30 matches the Wallabies have played since his return from England.
Of those 25 tests, he started in 19 matches and featured in every one of Australia’s games at the 2019 World Cup, and is currently part of the national team’s leadership group.
White has also been crucial in the recent success of the Brumbies, playing a key role in their 2020 Super Rugby AU title, as well as their run to last year’s Super Rugby AU final and their win over the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.
Since returning to the Canberra-based franchise, White has formed a crucial halves partnership with Lolesio, who is also the subject of speculation about interest from Japanese clubs.
Fox Sports reports that Lolesio, the 22-year-old who has played 11 tests for the Wallabies since his breakout season two years ago, is weighing up an offer to ply his trade in Japan in a deal that is reportedly worth far more than what he earns in Australia.
Lolesio is part of a young nucleus of Wallabies players who are considered to be the future of Australian rugby, but he currently finds himself behind Cooper and James O’Connor in the national pecking order at first-five.
Cooper and O’Connor are the leading candidates to don the No 10 jersey for Australia at next year’s World Cup, and their participation in last year’s end-of-year tour at the expense of Lolesio’s inclusion is reflective of their standings in Rennie’s book.
Unlike White, Lolesio wouldn’t be eligible for Wallabies selection should he decide to move to Japan given he doesn’t meet the 30-test, five-year domestic service threshold required of foreign-based Australian players.
While the Wallabies have enough depth to adequately replace White or Lolesio should they leave for Japan, the Brumbies don’t have such luxury.
In players like Cooper, O’Connor, Matt To’omua, Tate McDermott and Jake Gordon, the Wallabies have other options available to them who could slot in and fill the void left by White and Lolesio appropriately.
The same, however, can’t be said of the Brumbies, who are also facing the loss of star fullback Tom Banks, who has reportedly been offered a two-year deal in Japan worth A$2.8 million.
Both White and Lolesio have been named to start by Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar for Sunday’s Super Round clash against the Highlanders in Melbourne, while Banks continues to recover from a facial fracture.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments