Tuinakauvadra to join Leicester as Rugby Australia allow players to make PWR moves

Tabua Tuinakauvadra spearheads a “select group” of Wallaroos that Rugby Australia have allowed to join Premiership Women’s Rugby clubs.

Incumbent Wallaroos Player of the year, Tuinakauvadra, will join Leicester Tigers for the PWR 2026/27 season.

The 23-year-old has signed a contract with the East Midlanders that concludes at the end of April, which will release her for the 2027 editions of the Pacific Four Series and Super Rugby Women’s.

Tuinakauvadra will be the first of several Wallaroos to join PWR clubs in the months to come after players and Rugby Australia made a collaborative agreement to allow players an opportunity to play club rugby during the Australian offseason.

“With a home Rugby World Cup on the horizon, Rugby Australia is committed to exposing the Wallaroos to world-class competition wherever possible,” Peter Horne, Rugby Australia’s Director of High Performance, said.

“The opportunity to collaborate with PWR will allow a select group of Wallaroos to sharpen their skills during our off-season following a comprehensive ten Test programme and Super Rugby Women’s season in 2026.

“Gaining experience in a competition like the PWR will be invaluable for the players’ development as we build a Wallaroos programme with the goal of competing on the final weekend at the Rugby World Cup in 2029.”

Tuinakauvadra is the first signing of the 2o26/27 confirmed by Leicester. The club, who are currently bottom of the PWR table, have announced a spate of re-signings for next term, including the retention of USA Women’s Eagles back Tess Feury and five-cap Wallaroo, Jemima McCalman.

The capture of the 23-year-old is also a statement of intent from Tigers, who in recent months confirmed they had established an “enhanced strategy for growth and additional commitment” to their women’s team.

After surgery in February, Tuinakauvadra is expected to make her return to the pitch this weekend for the ACT Brumbies in their Super Rugby Women’s opener against the Queensland Reds.

“What can I say about Tabua?” Fraser Goatcher, Leicester Tigers’ Director of Rugby, said. “Wallaroos Player of the Year in 2025, she’s going to bring that ball-carrying prowess that we’ve been missing and she’s going to get us over the gain line regularly.

“From speaking to Tabua, she’s going to bring a really good energy to our squad. She will definitely bring that X-Factor.”