Former Wallabies wing Mark Nawaqanitawase is considering playing Test rugby for Fiji under coach Jake White.
The 26-year-old, who recently left the Sydney Roosters to join Japan’s Panasonic Wild Knights, has ruled himself out of Australia’s upcoming Nations Championship Tests against England, Scotland and Wales.
“Mark will not be available for international rugby this year,” his agent, Milan Volavola-Shankar, told Code Sports. “He informed [Wallabies coach] Les Kiss of his decision in July, and Rugby Australia has also been notified.”
While Nawaqanitawase’s immediate priority is settling into Japanese club rugby, a return to the Wallabies is not guaranteed.
He could instead switch allegiance to Fiji, through his father’s heritage, or Italy. Fiji on Tuesday unveiled White, who won the 2007 World Cup with the Springboks, as their new head coach.
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“As of August next year, Mark will have completed his three-year international stand-down period,” said Volavola-Shankar. “With his heritage making him eligible to represent both Italy and Fiji, he remains open to all options regarding his international future.”
Kiss, meanwhile, admitted last week that he had not spoken to Nawaqanitawase recently.
“I haven’t heard back from him yet, but we’ll see,” the Wallabies coach told reporters in Auckland. “I’ll just let it settle for this week and then have some conversations and see where it goes.
“I won’t know [if he will tour] until I chat to him. I had one chat to him in the early part of the season then said I’d leave him alone.”
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Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
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Former Wallabies wing Mark Nawaqanitawase is considering playing Test rugby for Fiji under coach Jake White.
The post League star to fly for Jake’s Fijians? appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
