Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh is confident that Mark Nawaqanitawase’s move to the NRL won’t affect his chances of being selected for the Wallabies in 2024. Waugh also said the door is always open for Nawaqanitawase to return to the game. He added that RA needs to create a strong culture to ensure players thrive in rugby.
Nawaqanitawase turned down an extension deal with RA to sign with the Sydney Roosters, sparking another blow to Australian Rugby. Despite this, Waugh believes that Nawaqanitawase should not be excluded from national selection, even though he will miss the British and Irish Lions series in 2025. He emphasized the importance of selecting the best 23 players for every Test match.
With Nawaqanitawase’s contract until 2026, he has the option to return for the Rugby World Cup in 2027. Waugh suggested that RA would not rule out making a pitch to bring him back for the event. Meanwhile, the departure has brought attention to RA’s culture and vision, with no director of high performance or Wallabies coach in place.
Waugh stressed the need to quickly establish a good culture with the right values and behaviors to drive recruitment and retention. He is also focused on strengthening the relationship with New Zealand Rugby for the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific board meetings. Waugh is determined to restore the Super Rugby tournament to its past glories.