Aussie Player Exodus

[LeCheese]

These feels like a bit of a first, Bayonne have issued a statement to assure their fans that Reece Hodge is not on that good a contract:

Actualités - Communiqué Officiel

Contrairement à ce qui est indiqué dans l’article de Sud Ouest intitulé «Aviron Bayonnais: Hugo Reus s’éloigne vers l’UBB, Reece Hodge se rapproche...

www.abrugby.fr

Translation for those who can’t be bothered to do so:

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE​

September 9, 2025
Contrary to what is indicated in the Sud Ouest article entitled "Aviron Bayonnais: Hugo Reus moves away to the UBB, Reece Hodge gets closer to the field", Reece Hodge is not "the highest salary of the workforce".

Aviron Bayonnais calls on everyone to verify their information so as not to commit, once again, an error detrimental to the Club and its employees.

 

[Wilson]

Apparently this has become a bit of a habit with Bayonne, putting out press releases for anything they think is wrong in an article attempting to shame the journalists for writing it. Not sure it's helping their image too much though, it feels like the sort of thing a club serious financial turmoil would do.

 

[Dctarget]

Apparently this has become a bit of a habit with Bayonne, putting out press releases for anything they think is wrong in an article attempting to shame the journalists for writing it. Not sure it's helping their image too much though, it feels like the sort of thing a club serious financial turmoil would do.

Lame, I want to support them this season with their strong Aussie contingent.

 

[Wilson]

Lame, I want to support them this season with their strong Aussie contingent.

Looking at it, it might be a specific fight with Sud-Ouest - they stopped taking questions from them in press conferences towards the end of last season, and now they keep issuing these statements shaming them for not calling to confirm details in their articles before printing them (might be a bit hard if Bayonne won't take their questions....).

This might just be due to the translation, but I find this line from that statement hilarious:

Everyone will comment on this lack of rigour and the objectives of such articles.

Can't help but read it in Trump's voice.

 

[MoneyBill685]

I'll cross post here Adam. I didn't actually have Pereira in my original data because all.rugby has him as a Kiwi.

I'm not really across the youngsters so I have to take all.rugby's interpretation of their nationality as gospel, and lets say it's sometimes a little curious.

So I probably have some non-Aussies in this list and also missed some. Appreciate any corrections.
View attachment 23313

Tauave Leofa Brisbane state high 5/8 from 2023 also plays for stade francais

 

[Tazzmania]

Brad Amiyuanai signs with Narbonne - France
Pone Fa'amausili injury cover signing with Soyaux - Angoulene - France

 

[Dctarget]

Where have all the great French tighthead props gone?

French tightheads lack the dynamic power and all-round skills of their major rivals, a major concern heading into the next World Cup.

www.rugbypass.com

This goes a little of the way of explaining why it seems every young Aussie prop has been snaffled by France. I wouldn't be expecting them back. Also noteworthy is that Antonio, their last great tight head is also a Kiwi ring in through residency (as is the big ballast behind him in Meafou and Willemse).

 

[Rob42]

SMH reporting that Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) will return to rugby after the 2026 NRL season, probably playing overseas but with an eye for RWC 2027.

 

[Strewthcobber]

SMH reporting that Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase) will return to rugby after the 2026 NRL season, probably playing overseas but with an eye for RWC 2027.

If those reports are starting to come out, it must be time for his manager to start negotiations with the Roosters?

 

[HogansHeros]

Initial reports saying he is looking at O/S contracts, not playing locally. The withdrawal of the Giteau law maybe swayed him, so he can be on big money.

 

[KOB1987]

Buzz Rothfield is remarkably calm about the whole thing. That could be because of his delusion that he is going to return to the NRL straight after the RWC.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Pretty sceptical that Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) will be able to find both a highly paid OS contract, and make the Wallaby squad for 2027.

Not because it couldn't be done, but because I reckon any club will not want to pay him the money he will be seeking if he is playing Wallabies from July to Nov through 2027, which is the commitment his Wallaby coach will want.

Maybe a Japanese team?

 

[KOB1987]

Although all clubs suffer that dynamic with their international stars in a world cup year - from memory they change the timing of the comps around the RWC? That said, I was thinking that for Marky to lock down a spot in the Wallabies he probably needs to play Super Rugby in 2027, so perhaps he has to make a bit of a sacrifice for that year and then head overseas in 2028.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Although all clubs suffer that dynamic with their international stars in a world cup year - from memory they change the timing of the comps around the RWC? That said, I was thinking that for Marky to lock down a spot in the Wallabies he probably needs to play Super Rugby in 2027, so perhaps he has to make a bit of a sacrifice for that year and then head overseas in 2028.

Our RWC is being played in Oct/Nov instead of the usual Sept/Oct, so I'd say most club comps won't be able to delay a start like they have in the past.

Top 14 had a big break last time, but that was for a French WC

 

[Dctarget]

Christmas coming early gang

RA has reached out to GC (league team) to release GC (player) early.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/09/24/rugby-australia-ramps-up-pursuit-of-gordon-as-wallabies-seek-to-solve-no-10-conundrum-ahead-of-rwc/

 

[Strewthcobber]

Christmas coming early gang

RA has reached out to GC (league team) to release GC (player) early.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/09/24/rugby-australia-ramps-up-pursuit-of-gordon-as-wallabies-seek-to-solve-no-10-conundrum-ahead-of-rwc/

Did the GC teach him how to kick goals?

(I know....it's good news, I just can't help myself)

 

[Wilson]

Pretty sceptical that Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase) will be able to find both a highly paid OS contract, and make the Wallaby squad for 2027.

Not because it couldn't be done, but because I reckon any club will not want to pay him the money he will be seeking if he is playing Wallabies from July to Nov through 2027, which is the commitment his Wallaby coach will want.

Maybe a Japanese team?

Would probably depend on length of contract - a 2 year deal won't have them too interested if he's going to miss a bunch of rugby straight off, but most would likely cop a season paying overs if they were getting him locked in for 4.

R360 is probably the other major player there, but who knows where that's at. Things have gone awfully quiet every since they withdrew from the World Rugby sanctioning process. Guess we'll know more about that one in a week or two, when that end of September deadline passes.

 

[Wilson]

Did the GC teach him how to kick goals?

(I know....it's good news, I just can't help myself)

While the Reds already have Lynagh and fellow emerging talent Harry McLaughlin-Phillips on their books, sources have told The Roar that they believe there’s room for Gordon to play in the same XV as one of the other playmakers, even if it’s not in the No.10 jersey.

A lot of room when you need one of them kicking goals.

I would be pretty happy to see Carter back at the Reds though, he'd offset the ongoing risk around concussions in the play makers and Isaac Henry has also been an excellent place kicker in the past (oddly not taking shots on the weekend though) so there's room to balance his weaknesses even if he doesn't end up with one of the current tens.

 

[Dctarget]

You all know my thoughts on Gordon, I'm a broken record on it. IMHO he's the best young 10 we've seen in in the past decade and has skills that the others could only dream of. Seems to be healthy now, we'd be foolish not to welcome him back. His passing, vision and defence make him unique. Surely kicking is the most teachable of the skills.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I'm genuinely amazed at how many of our 12s, 14s and 15s don't kick goals, at least to a decent level. Such a differentiator.

There must be a reason they aren't doing it?