Aussie Pro Rugby
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Wallabies captain Harry Wilson has committed long-term to Australian Rugby, signing a four-year extension. The deal sees Wilson commit his future to Queensland and Australia until the end of the 2029 season, the first Wallaby to do so. -
Ikitau confirmed to be moving to Exeter after the 2025 Rugby Championship:
Exeter to make Australia centre Len Ikitau one of highest-paid Premiership players
Centre will join Premiership side in October following conclusion of Rugby Championship
It looks to be a deal not too dissimilar to what Fainga'anuku has done, where he'll go for a season or two to Europe before returning to Super Rugby. At least, that's what Christy Doran is reporting at The Roar.
https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/02/25/exclusive-cashed-up-english-club-signs-ikitau-and-they-have-sights-set-on-another-star-wallaby-in-aussie-raid/ -
Any reason why so many Aussies go to Exeter? Is there a link between them and Aussie rugby?
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So aside from the societies media blow up, this is what the 5 year residency rules mean, poaching players at a younger age. Pushing the pro wage to lower and lower age brackets, which often isn't great in the long term for younger peoples mental health and the health of the game in schools
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Needing official clearance from club, state and national representatives before any such moves can be made official
Wait, what? Did I read something wrong? He's 16 and has no contract.
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@antipodean said in Aussie Pro Rugby:
Needing official clearance from club, state and national representatives before any such moves can be made official
Wait, what? Did I read something wrong? He's 16 and has no contract.
Yeah it's a bit confusing, I think those rules kick in at 17. But AR want clarity from WR if that should this cover under 17, as frogs are poaching so early in this case
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@African-Monkey said in Aussie Pro Rugby:
Any reason why so many Aussies go to Exeter? Is there a link between them and Aussie rugby?
This article goes a bit more into it:
How Australian rugby can combine gourmet home cooking and the overseas 'takeaway'
Player 'hubs' in Europe, coupled with the rise of domestic franchises, can pave the way towards a bright Wallaby future.
There doesn't seem to be anything formalized between RA and Exeter Chiefs, just a lot of positive feedback from former Australian Exeter players, like Nic White and Greg Holmes.
Might be a bit misleading given their current financial insecurities and poor sporting performances, but, to be fair to Exeter Chiefs, they were always a very well-run rugby club until the economic effects of the pandemic hit them hard. (see for example: https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/exeter-blame-covid-hangover-as-pre-tax-losses-nearly-double-mrgb6mmkc)
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In a major boost for Australian rugby, the country’s best Super Rugby player of the past two years, Fraser McReight, has re-signed with the Queensland Reds. A week after The Roar revealed that McReight was strongly weighing up a move to the land of the rising sun, the 26-year-old turned down a $1.3 million deal in Japan to sign a new three-year deal with the Reds that will keep the openside flanker in the country beyond the 2027 home World Cup. An announcement is expected in the coming days.
'Only place I wanted to be': Captain Wilson signs long-term extension for Reds, Wallabies
