Nawaqanitawase lands multimillion-dollar Japan deal to keep World Cup dream alive

1 month ago 4

Dual-code international Mark Nawaqanitawase has signed a landmark two-year deal for more than $1 million a season with a Division One Japanese rugby team, despite strong interest from France.

Nawaqanitawase will finish this season with the Sydney Roosters in the NRL, before travelling to Japan ahead of the 2027 World Cup, which will take place in Australia. The Roosters remain open to welcoming Nawaqanitawase back after his contract ends in Japan ends.

Mark Nawaqanitawase in action for the Kangaroos in England.

Nawaqanitawase’s valuation has shot up following a brilliant first season in the NRL. He was always keen to play his club rugby abroad, after spending four years in Super Rugby with the NSW Waratahs.

He has played 11 times for the Wallabies and is also eligible to play for Italy and Fiji at the World Cup.

In August, Rugby Australia director of high performance Peter Horne said the controversial Giteau Law was “kind of redundant”, leaving Nawaqanitawase free to play for the Wallabies if selected. The Giteau Law allows overseas-based players to be selected for the Wallabies only under strict criteria.

Despite the Wallabies failing to reach the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup in France, Nawaqanitawase was one of the team’s best performers.

Mark Nawaqanitawase was the top try-scorer in the NRL last season.

Japan has increasingly become a destination for some of the world’s best players, including South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe, who is reportedly earning more than $1.8 million a season at Tokyo Sungoliath in Division One.

Last September, Nawaqanitawase informed the Roosters he intended to leave the club at the end of 2026 to chase his dream of playing at a home World Cup.

In the same month, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt praised the dual-code player’s aerial ability and the value he could potentially bring to a team that went on to struggle badly under the high ball during the four Test defeats in Europe during the spring tour.

“I don’t think we discount anyone in terms of players who have either been in the gold jersey previously or have come through the school system and potentially would like to be back involved with rugby union,” Schmidt said.

“Just because there’s so much talent among some of those players, and his athleticism in the air is not too different from Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. To have athletes like that, it’s always something that would add value.”

The Wallabies remain relatively well stocked for wingers – with Max Jorgensen, Dylan Pietsch, Corey Toole, Harry Potter and Andrew Kellaway all spending plenty of time in the gold jersey – but Nawaqanitawase’s unique talents as a finisher and in the air would be difficult to ignore for incoming coach Les Kiss.

Nawaqanitawase will join a large Australian contingent in Japanese rugby, which includes veterans Samu Kerevi, Bernard Foley and Marika Koroibete. Former Wallabies coach Michael Hooper has also been recently working as an assistant coach at Toyota Verblitz.

In October, Wallabies five-eighth Noah Lolesio joined second division Japanese club Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi after sustaining a serious neck injury against Fiji.