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Wallabies pivot Noah Lolesio rejects Japan to re-sign with Rugby Australia
Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio has put an end to speculation about a move to Japan by inking a new contract with Rugby Australia [RA].
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Lolesio has re-signed with RA through until the end of 2024, ending rumours of a possible move to Japan, where he was the subject of a reported seven-figure offer from at least one League One club.
However, the 22-year-old has opted to remain in Australia as he continues to push for further opportunities at test level.
“I’m really grateful to be able to re-sign with Rugby Australia and the Brumbies,” Lolesio said in a statement released on Monday.
“Achieving some of my goals, like representing the Wallabies, has been a dream come true, but I’ve still got a lot of things I want to achieve in both a Brumbies and a Wallabies jersey.
“Being part of a great group at the Brumbies with guys I’ve been playing with for a long time is something I value highly and off the back of training well, and putting in good performances, getting the opportunity to be a part of the Wallabies setup is amazing, so I’m just stoked to be staying.”
After making his Wallabies debut against the All Blacks two years ago, Lolesio has gone on to play in nine tests, playing a key role in Australia’s 2020 Bledisloe Cup win over New Zealand in Brisbane, and their three-test series win over France last July.
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Regarded as the third-choice Wallabies first-five behind veteran duo Quade Cooper and James O’Connor, Lolesio is well-placed to succeed those two as the next cab off the rank following next year’s World Cup.
Lolesio could yet feature at that tournament in France, but while his place in the World Cup squad is far from confirmed, his retention by RA provides the Wallabies with depth in one of the most crucial positions in the team.
It’s unsurprising, then, that Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie is more than pleased by Lolesio’s decision to stay put rather than chase money abroad.
“We’re thrilled Noah has re-committed to Australian rugby for another two years,” Rennie said via a statement.
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“He’s a confident young man, whose developing composure under pressure is evident at both Super Rugby and test level.
“His skillset continues to improve, and we believe him staying in Canberra and Australian rugby is going to be the best place for him to realise his potential.”
Likewise, outgoing Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar was similarly excited by Lolesio’s contract extension, which means incoming boss Stephen Larkham will still have the franchise’s star man at his disposal upon his return to Canberra next year.
“It’s fantastic for the Brumbies to have Noah locked in,” McKellar, who will leave the Brumbies to join Rennie at the Wallabies as an assistant coach on a full-time basis after this year’s Super Rugby Pacific, said.
“Noah’s a player of tremendous potential, he’s developed well in our program and everyone at the Brumbies believes he’ll only continue to get better as he gets more and more time in the saddle.
“Retaining him was a high priority for everyone involved in Australian rugby so it’s an exciting day for the club and a no doubt a proud day for Noah and his family.”
Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar 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.
11 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.
54 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.
7 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
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 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
54 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.
54 Go to comments