Mark Nawaqanitawase’s short-term future in a Wallabies jersey might be over but the World Cup winger could return to France next month in gold for the Olympics after being called up to the Australian Sevens team.
The Roar can reveal the 23-year-old will feature against Fiji next week in a series of matches against the double Olympic gold medallists five weeks out from the Paris Games.
Nawaqanitawase’s selection comes just weeks after new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt put a line through his name for the upcoming Tests against Wales and Georgia by leaving him out of a massively inflated national train-on squad.
Although Nawaqanitawase’s form hasn’t reached the heights of the past two seasons, his non-selection was more likely down to signing with the Sydney Roosters in the NRL on a two-year deal from 2025.
But with Nawaqanitawase still contracted with Rugby Australia until year’s end, Australian men’s sevens coach John Manenti has pounced on the winger’s services and is open to the possibility of him making a late run for next month’s Olympics.
Mark Nawaqanitawase has been called into the Australian Sevens team ahead of the Paris Olympics. (Photo by Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images)
The decision to open the door for Nawaqanitawase to feature at the Olympics isn’t surprising.
After all, Manenti has been for months sounding out Rugby Australia officials who from Super Rugby he might be able to tap into.
But recently a few of those doors closed, with Lachie Anderson and Teddy Wilson deciding to concentrate on their future in the 15-a-side game.
While Tim Ryan, who has been a revelation over the past two months for the Reds, has also decided to put all his attention into becoming the best winger he possibly can.
Whether he can get his hands on proven wingers Darby Lancaster, Corey Toole and Dylan Pietsch remains to be seen, but more likely than not the trio will be in the mix to play for the Wallabies.
It’s left Manenti scrambling mere weeks out from the Olympics as others, including France, who have brilliantly integrated national captain Antoine Dupont, and Ireland, who recalled star fullback Hugo Keegan, finalise their preparations for the Paris Olympics.
Whether Nawaqanitawase makes the Olympic team remains to be seen, but a decision could be made within a fortnight.
Mark Nawaqanitawase in action during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Coventry Stadium on July 30, 2022 on the Coventry. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
It’s believed RA want Manenti to decide on Nawaqanitawase sooner rather than later because the governing body could potentially get the NRL-bound winger off their books early if a deal could be made for him to join the Roosters immediately.
For a cash-strapped union, that’s nothing to sneeze about.
But for Manenti, the national men’s coach wants to change the negative narrative surrounding rugby in the country by leading the side to an Olympic medal.
That’s being made harder by the indecisiveness at the top surrounding the Wallabies and the roughly 60 players Schmidt is running his eyes over ahead of the July Tests.
Meanwhile, attacking livewire Maurice Longbottom is in serious doubt of playing at next month’s Olympics because of injury.
It’s left Manenti scratching his head over who could step into his shoes if necessary.
Force attacking threat Max Burey, who finished the year at fly-half, has been recalled to the national sevens teams for now.