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Lolesio set to walk out on Australian rugby - reports
By Ian Cameron
Rookie Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio is poised to walk out on Australian Rugby after being overlooked by new head coach Eddie Jones.
According to Christy Doran of The Roar, Lolesio is on the verge of signing with Top 14 club Toulon for the upcoming season, a move many will interpret as the proverbial two fingers to Jones, his coaching ticket and Australian rugby writ large.
The 23-year-old Brumbies playmaker had an eventful 2022, which included leading the Wallabies to victories against England, the Springboks, and Wales.
Despite his promising performances, Lolesio's selection for the national team hasn't followed - either under Jones or his predecessor, Dave Rennie. The young playmaker found himself omitted from the Wallabies' Rugby Championship opener in Argentina last year, and even when veteran Quade Cooper sustained a season-ending injury, the coaching staff turned to other options before eventually bringing Lolesio back.
Lolesio's exclusion from Australia A's side that will face Tonga further illustrates his uncertain position within the national setup - appearing to be a considerable way down Jones' pecking order at 10.
RugbyRama report that Lolesio will likely sign as a medical joker if he does make the switch to Toulon.
Lolesio came through the Australian rugby pathways to earn his Wallaby debut in 2020, having steered the Brumbies to a Super Rugby AU title in his maiden season in the professional ranks.
Born in Auckland but raised on the Gold Coast, Lolesio relocated to Canberra straight after graduating from The Southport School, where he cut his teeth at the Tuggeranong Vikings and Canberra Vikings in the John I Dent Cup and National Rugby Championship respectively.
A member of both the Australian Schoolboys and the Junior Wallabies, he started at inside centre in the side that fell agonisingly short in the 2019 U20 Rugby World Cup final.
Wallaby number 934, in 2021 he helped the men in gold secure their first home Series win since 2014, with his two penalty goals in the first and third Tests against France proving the difference.
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Latest Comments
The way Ratima has been treated he needs to look OS. Same with Perofeta and Love, Hothem too. Razor is a token coach. Gives debuts but very few mins. Also DM too. Just go earn millions elsewhere DM as all you get in NZ is bagging.
BB is coaches favourite and I say let him have BB right thru to the next 2 or maybe even 3 World cups.😁😁 Have JB outside him at 12...That just works so well.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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