Wallabies star Mark Nawaqanitawase will jump ship to rugby league and join the Roosters.
The news was broken by The Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday morning and Rugby Australia then confirmed it.
The gun winger will join the Chooks on a two-year NRL deal from 2025.
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“We are disappointed – Mark has been a strong player over the last 12 months,” Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh said.
“However, the outside backs are a position of strength for us, with great depth coming through. We are confident we are well-stocked with talented wingers for the future.”
It’s a major strike back for rugby league and the Tricolours, who will lose young star Joseph Suaalii to the 15-man code at the end of next year.
Nawaqanitawase, 23, is the first incumbent Wallabies player to jump ship to rugby league in 20 years.
Mat Rogers was the last to do so when he joined the Titans in 2006.
He informed teammates and Rugby Australia on Wednesday of his decision.
The two-year contract with the Roosters leaves the door open for Nawaqanitawase to return to rugby in time for the 2027 World Cup, which will be hosted by Australia.
“This has been an intense process for Mark and his family, which has taken some time to navigate,” his agent Andrew Fairbairn told the Herald.
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“At 23, Mark feels now is the best time to stay in Australia, but have a new experience in the Roosters program for 2025 and 2026.
“(Chooks coach) Trent Robinson has a long line of success with working with rugby union talent – which ultimately was the catalyst in Mark’s decision.”
The loss of Nawaqanitawase caps a dire period for Rugby Australia and the Wallabies, who were bundled out of the World Cup’s group stage and then watched coach Eddie Jones quit amid a firestorm.
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan also fell on his sword last month.
