How the 'vibe' of a home World Cup kept Wallabies star in Australia

Allan Alaalatoa hopes the “vibe” of a home World Cup in 2027 will be enough to tempt other Wallabies to follow his lead and turn down the riches overseas and recommit to Rugby Australia.

Alaalatoa inked a four-year contract extension last month which will ensure he’s front and centre of Australia’s plans for the 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour and the 2027 World Cup.

As a tighthead prop, and after a disappointing 2022 campaign with the national team, the Brumbies forward could have taken the easier option and chased the money on offer in France, the UK, Ireland or Japan.

But with two big occasions on home soil – and the prospect of being coached by Eddie Jones – the 29-year-old says he wants to play his part in the next few years.

“The vibe and the energy that went around (in the 2003 World Cup) was unreal so to get that opportunity to be in that space is awesome,” Alaalatoa said.

“It’s a goal of mine and I think that it is a goal for a lot of Australian players.

“I think that definitely encourages players to stay in Super Rugby Pacific and to stay here and to put their best foot forward for the jersey.

“I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t looked overseas.

“My brother (Michael) is over there with (Irish club) Leinster and couldn’t speak highly enough of it.”

As one of the Wallabies’ experienced campaigners, Alaalatoa was recently sounded out by Jones, who secured a long-term deal as Wallabies coach last month when Dave Rennie was axed.

Jones faces a mammoth task to get the national team primed under his game plan and direction with just five Tests before the World Cup in France.

“I’ve heard he’s hard on his players and you hear stories from past players but it was awesome to catch up,” Alaalatoa said.

“It was good for us to get to know each other, he wanted to know about my wife, my kids and what motivates me.

“(He wanted to know) what worked for us as a team and what our biggest growth was moving forward.”