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‘I can’t lie…’: Why giant lock Miles Amatosero left Australian rugby as a teenager
NSW Waratahs recruit Miles Amatosero is the next big thing in Australian Super Rugby. The hulking lock is the tallest player at the Tahs, so ‘big’ certainly fits the bill in a literal sense, but there’s also plenty of interest surrounding his return to Australia’s shores.
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Amatosero, 21, played more than 30 matches for French Top 14 juggernauts ASM Clermont Auvergne over a few years, which included four Champions Cup matches.
But an opportunity to return home to Sydney proved too good to turn down. The young Australian has signed on with the Waratahs for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
But this is more than just a rugby story. This is what it means to be back home.
Following a lengthy stint in France, Amatosero was visibly thrilled to be back Down Under. You could see it in the way he lit up as he spoke – with such enthusiasm, excitement and eagerness.
It’s been a long time away from home – a long time living on the other side of the world. But to be back, in his own words: “If feels normal but in a good way, it’s almost hard to explain.”
Amatosero is a Sydney boy, after all. After graduating from the Eastern Suburbs’ Waverly College as a teenager, the rising star had an opportunity to sign with the Waratahs Academy.
But he said no. An opportunity to head to France won the prodigal talent over, with Amatosero saying au revoir to Australia after signing a deal with Clermont.
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“I can’t lie, it definitely was more appealing,” Amatosero told RugbyPass. “Just weighing up what I was faced with, it was like would you like to stay here and maybe get a few trainings in with the big dogs and you’d need to pick up a job and need to be doing things like that.
Meet Miles Amatosero, who has returned home to strengthen the Tahs forward pack in 2024.
Full video – https://t.co/y166GVvwid#NSW150
@mamatosero_ pic.twitter.com/8Lw8RPrHD8
— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) November 28, 2023
“Of course, I want to play here, that’s what I want to do, that’s what I know you need to do.
“I was looking around and then my agent just whispered in my ear and said, ‘Why don’t you just go try this over in France?’ I was like, ‘It’s so far away.’
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“I looked at it like a holiday. I went over and the way they have it set up over there, it just blew me out of the water.
“I was weighing the two offers up that I had and there it’s like a full contract, you get an apartment, you get all these bonuses and top-ups and things, and obviously as a 17-year-old, you love all that sort of stuff.
“But then again, it comes with a price. You’re living on the other side of the world away from everyone so that can be difficult but.
“In the short-term… when I was comparing the two, it was definitely better looking in France.”
It was a bold move – a brave move, even, for someone so young. But amongst all the excitement, there seemed to be almost a sense of sadness. That became clearer each and every time he’d return home on holiday.
Much like teenagers Roshi Butlin and Aiden Stait, who spoke with RugbyPass last year about their decisions to sign for French rugby academies, leaving family and friends in Australia was a tough decision that they had to make.
Amatosero prioritised his family during the multi-year stint abroad, but there were times when the second-rower thought living overseas, at that stage, wasn’t “really what I want.”
“Even when I was leaving (Australia), like throughout my whole time there, it just got harder and harder to go back,” Amatosero said. “I’d come back for holiday and each time going back over it just got harder and harder and harder to leave here.
“I knew from the start this isn’t going to be a place that I’m going to be for the rest of my life, I’m not going to be living here for the rest of my life.
“I know I want to keep playing footy but right now I’m living in France and it’s not really what I want at the moment so how am I going to make it work? The obvious choice is to come back home.
“There were a lot of things that were having to keep me in France like financially wise. I was making a big sacrifice with my family and myself but it wouldn’t have been a bigger sacrifice than actually coming back here and not being able to support them fully. That’s the reason I went over. It was definitely keeping me there.
“I started playing some good footy and I’m lucky enough to come back home.”
But without any hesitation, Amatosero agreed that he’s “definitely” a better player now than he would’ve been if he’d stayed in Australia and pursued the academy route.
Amatosero debuted for Clermont against Ma’a Nonu’s Toulon and continued to grow as a player during some valuable exposure to senior rugby – whether that be at training or on the field of play.
“I think like position specific, tighthead lock, like if you’re in that tight five I genuinely do think that the programming and the resources that they have, and just the passion that they’ve got towards the set-piece… from pretty much when I got there to when I left, it was just drilling it into me,” he added.
“It makes you love it, like it actually made me love set-piece, love scrums, love mauls, and as a tight five, that’s exactly what you want.
“I feel like you’re forced to love it (in Australia) but there you actually love it. You love it because everyone around you loves it, the crowd loves it, the fans love it.”
But life has come full circle for young Miles Amatosero. After turning down an opportunity to sign with the Waratahs Academy, the second-rower is back wearing sky blue ahead of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
“It’s been awesome. Seriously like, I think leading into it I had a lot of expectations with being back home (after) being away for so long.”
“It’s been so much better and more just being home just feels right, it feels normal – it feels normal but in a good way, it’s almost hard to explain.
“Comfortable but I don’t want to stay comfortable. I’m trying to achieve more and do more and more every day but it’s definitely a lot easier to play good footy.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Dear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
218 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
218 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
44 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
15 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
44 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
5 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
7 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
218 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
7 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
7 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
7 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to commentsSo many excuses. No mention of the SA number 2 being taken out illegally in the 2nd minute. That act of foul play had a massive impact on the SA game. Face it, NZ play pretty dirty very regularly, and it’s only since 2016 they’ve been held to higher officiating standards via stricter officiating and TMO reviews. They deserved to have a man down. Sorry. Fix the yellow and red cards and NZ will win more RWCs. Plus, there WAS a knock on invalidating the one try, so it was NOT a try. Period. Here’s a Kleenex…
218 Go to commentsOverheard conversation between NZ and SA rugby fans everywhere: We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! We’re the greatest! No we’re the greatest! Ireland are arrogant! True but they beat you! We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! Etc. etc, etc.
44 Go to commentsTypical crap Aussie weather
11 Go to comments“If they’d have beaten England, I still feel we would have been talking ‘is this the best team ever,’ ‘is this the best team that’s ever played in the Six Nations'” he said. “I still think they’re not quite that good. I actually don’t think they’re that good.” So Trimble is saying he doesn’t think this is the best 6N team of all time. He is silent on if it is the best Irish team of all time. Can’t disagree with him. Just another misrepresentative clickbait headline from the guys at RP.
44 Go to comments