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Uncapped Wallabies cross-code star Suliasi Vunivalu confirms playing future
After much speculation about whether he will stay in rugby union or return to rugby league, uncapped Wallabies star Suliasi Vunivalu has confirmed his playing future.
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Rugby Australia [RA] announced on Tuesday that Vunivalu has inked a one-season contract extension with the national union at the Queensland Rugby Union in a deal that will keep him in rugby union until after next year’s World Cup.
In doing so, the 26-year-old has rejected a possible return to rugby league, where numerous NRL clubs – including the new Redcliffe Dolphins side – were reportedly circling for his signature.
Instead, the two-time NRL Premiership winner, who scored 86 tries in 111 matches for the Melbourne Storm between 2016 and 2020, will remain with RA and the Reds next season as he eyes a place at the 2023 World Cup in France.
“I’m really excited to re-sign with Queensland and Australian rugby,” Vunivalu said in a statement.
“I’m enjoying my time at Ballymore with the Reds. I’ve made a lot of good friends here and I have enjoyed learning from someone who also has experience in both codes in Brad Thorn.
“I still have a lot to learn, but Queensland is the best place for me to reach the next level.
“Playing in a World Cup for Australia was a big reason I made the move to rugby last year and I’ll be doing my best to hopefully achieve that goal.
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“I’m looking forward to learning more over the next few months in Wallabies camp and taking that back to the Reds in 2023.”
Vunivalu has endured a disrupted experience in rugby union since switching codes a year-and-a-half ago, with hamstring injuries and off-field legal issues restricting his on-field performances.
As such, an expected Wallabies debut is yet to come to fruition, but that should change over the coming weeks after an injury-free Vunivalu produced a string of compelling Super Rugby Pacific performances to earn selection in the current Wallabies squad.
One of six wing options in Dave Rennie’s squad ahead of July’s three-test series against England, Vunivalu could make his rugby union test debut as early as next week, when the Wallabies host the English in Perth on July 2.
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In doing so, he would become a dual international after having scored 12 tries in eight tests for Fiji during his time in rugby league.
Rennie spoke highly of Vunivalu on Tuesday, labelling his re-signing with RA and the Reds as “a massive positive” for all parties.
“Having Suli re-sign is a massive positive for all supporters of Australian rugby,” Rennie said via a statement.
“He’s an incredible athlete with huge potential and having him in the Wallabies squad is only going to accelerate his development.
“His ability in the air is phenomenal and we’ve been impressed with his work ethic and desire to improve all areas of his game.”
Reds general manager Sam Cordingley, meanwhile, was excited to have Vunivalu return to the Reds following their quarter-final finish in Super Rugby Pacific this season.
“Suli is a very popular member of the Reds squad and it was pleasing to see his form being rewarded with Wallaby squad selection,” he said.
“It is great news for the Reds and Wallabies that he has extended through 2023.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Shame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
2 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
2 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
2 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
2 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to comments