Wallabies hold onto to 'quality player'
NEWS: Rugby Australia and the Waratahs announced the re-signing of Lalakai Foketi until the end of 2025.
Wallaby number 950, Foketi made his international debut against Wales in Cardiff in 2021 and has gone on to represent his country a further four times, famously finishing a stunning length of the field of the try against France in Paris last year.
Far from taking the conventional path to Test Rugby, Foketi made his Super Rugby debut in 2014 for the Melbourne Rebels, before stints with Bay of Plenty in New Zealand and Bayonne in France’s Top 14 competition. He returned to Australia in 2018, linking up with his home state and th Waratahs where he has developed into a leader and regular starter at inside centre.
A product of the Manly Roos Junior Rugby Club, Manly Marlins and the Kings School, Foketi was also an Australian Under-20 representative in 2014.
Wallabies and Waratahs centre, Lalakai Foketi said: “I’m super stoked to stay here at the Waratahs for the next two years. Sydney is home for me and my family and there’s nowhere else we would rather be.
#NEWS: He is the first Wallabies international to occupy the role. 👇#RugbyAustralia #Australia #Wallabies https://t.co/X8EK1OXJ9S
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) June 6, 2023
“I feel the group we have here at the moment is yet to reach its full potential and I look forward to working hard with my teammates and the coaching staff to make that happen.
“I’ve had a small taste of Test Rugby over the past two years which has really lit a fire inside me to earn more opportunities at that level and I know I’ll need to continue to work hard to make that happen.”
Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones said: “Lalakai is an experienced player who has all the attributes to be a standout centre at Test level.”
“He’s also a strong communicator and to have him re-sign with Australian Rugby for two years is really positive.”
Waratahs head coach Darren Coleman said: “Lalakai is a quality man and a quality player. He’s got a strong carry, has good distribution and game sense and is one of our most solid defenders. He’s also very popular among the playing group.”
“His Rugby experiences from different competitions brings a real point of difference to our team, so to have him locked in for the next two years is a massive positive.”
