Wallabies hopeful Miles Amatosero returns home with Waratahs

Harbouring ambitions of donning Wallaby gold, French-based lock Miles Amatosero will return home to Australia after penning a deal with the NSW Waratahs for the 2024 season.

After further his rugby development in Sydney’s prestigious CAS high school competition with Waverley College, Amatosero left Australian shores after signing with Clermont as a teenager.

Amatosero debuted in the Top 14 with Clermont at just 18 years old and has gone on to play 26 games over three seasons in the famous yellow and blue strip.

For quite some time it’s seemed that Amatosero was another one that got away from Australian rugby. Standing at 6’8 and weighing a hulking 125 kilograms, the towering lock has immense potential in the sport.

But the NSW Waratahs have pulled off a headline-grabbing coup ahead of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season by luring the 21-year-old back home.

“Firstly, I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to return home to Australia and represent the Waratahs and also be closer to my family,” Amatosero said. “When I left at a young age, it was hard to be away from them.

“My sister has had two kids now, and I haven’t really been around for much of that. My brother turned 18 so I’m keen to get back with them and have them in the stands.

“I’m excited about the prospect of living out my dream of playing for Australia, (it) is all I want. I’ve always said, ‘Man, I wish one day I could be a Wallaby.’”

Amatosero joins former NRL flyer Joseph Suaalii and backrower Fergus Lee-Warner as some of the Tahs’ incoming talent ahead of next season. In another boost, Teddy Wilson, Lachlan Swinton, Ned Hanigan and Will Harrison have all officially re-signed with the club this month.

It’s an exciting time for the Tahs as they prepare for a new era without the likes of Michael Hooper and Ben Donaldson.

Head coach Darren Coleman is looking forward to the giant second-rower Amatosero joining the club's ranks, saying he has the potential to become “a valuable asset” to the Waratahs.

“Miles is an exciting talent, and his return to Australian rugby is a significant milestone for the NSW Waratahs,” Coleman said.

“His size, physicality and athleticism at such a young age make him a valuable asset to our forward pack.

“I’ve enjoyed getting to know Miles, he is very motivated to grow his game and push for higher honours, but first and foremost he needs to get home, work hard and force his way into our strong forward pack, then good things will come from this.”