In a stunning contract twist, Mark Nawaqanitawase is set to feature in next month’s Olympics in Paris before being granted an early release from his Rugby Australia contract to join the Sydney Roosters’ NRL finals push. After being excluded from Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies squad for the July Tests, the World Cup Wallaby has faced a tug-of-war between John Manenti’s national sevens program and his new NRL employers the Roosters. With the Roosters’ depth being pushed after a couple of suspensions to Junior Pauga and Waratahs-bound Joseph Suaalii, as well as Billy Smith and two others, Trent Robinson had attempted to buy Nawaqanitawase out of the final six months of his contract with RA.
But standing in the way of an early release is Manenti’s ambitions of medalling at next month’s Paris Games, with Nawaqanitawase’s finishing ability, aerial prowess and unique skill to free his arms offering the men’s program a point of difference. After featuring at last year’s World Cup, Mark Nawaqanitawase is set to feature at the Olympics before jumping ship to the Sydney Roosters. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) Nawaqanitawase, along with the Wallabies’ most-capped captain Michael Hooper, took part in a five-day training camp in Darwin earlier in the week to try and convince Manenti of their credentials.
It’s believed Nawaqanitawase, who burst onto the global stage in compelling fashion during the 2022 Spring Tour, where he scored a match-winning double against Wales.
