Isaac Kailea latest Wallaby to pen new deal through to home World Cup

Isaac Kailea is the latest Wallaby to recommit through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil, with the loosehead prop penning a two-year contract extension with the NSW Waratahs and Rugby Australia.

Kailea’s decision to re-sign was announced in the early hours of Friday morning and it’s a major coup for the code in Australia, with the front-rower joining other Wallabies like Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Matt Faessler who’ve all recently inked new deals.

Under Australia coach Joe Schmidt, Kailea enjoyed a breakout season on the international stage in 2024. After a 22-game career with the Melbourne Rebels, Kailea was given a shot in the big time of Test rugby with the Wallabies, which started with a debut against Wales in Sydney.

There’s plenty of depth up front in Australian rugby but Kailea was given the chance to start in Tests against Georgia and South Africa. The 24-year-old played eight matches across the international campaign, including two appearances during the Wallabies’ Spring Tour.

Kailea wasn’t selected in the Waratahs’ round-one side to face the Highlanders in Sydney with the squad boasting genuine world-class depth, but the prop did get an opportunity in sky blue off the bench against the Fijian Drua in round three.

With 23 Super Rugby caps and eight Test appearances, Kailea is one to watch within Australian rugby in the years ahead, with the front-rower gladly putting pen to paper with Rugby Australia on this new short-term extension.

“I’m happy to be able to have my immediate future sorted and to have some stability so I can focus on my rugby here at the Waratahs for at least the next three years,” Kailea said in a statement.

“I’m really enjoying my time here in Sydney with the team so far and working with the coaches to improve my game.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to work hard and earn more opportunities to represent the blue and gold jerseys.”

Standing at 190cm and weighing an imposing 129kgs, Kailea’s decision to shift from backrow to prop in 2018 has proved to be a stroke of genius. The product of Melbourne’s Harlequin Junior Rugby Club emerged as a front-row force for the Rebels in Super Rugby.

Fast-forward to 2024 and Kailea’s 30-minute cameo off the pine for the Wallabies against Wales at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium was exciting. There’s was plenty to like about the youngster’s first outing in Wallaby gold, and that was only the start.

Kailea backed up with another 25-minute appearance off the bench a week later against Warren Gatland’s Welsh side in Melbourne before earning a maiden Test start in a 40-29 win over Georgia, with the prop scoring a try.

With the world champion Springboks coming to town, Kailea was tasked with setting the tone after being named to start once again in the Brisbane Test. Appearances off the bench against Argentina, New Zealand, Scotland and Ireland followed to round out the rookie’s Test season.

Kailea has struggled for gametime so far this season with the Waratahs, but after being named on the bench for Saturday’s Aussie derby with the ACT Brumbies in Sydney, the loosehead has another chance to make some noise.

“It’s great to have Isaac on board for the next couple of years,” Waratahs coach Dan McKellar stated.

“He’s a good young loosehead prop with enormous potential, working hard on his set-piece game to develop around scrum, lineout and maul which will complement his natural talents as a rugby player – very physical, good footwork, physical and accurate on both sides of the ball.

“He’s certainly someone that’ll give us good strength and depth in a really important position.”

Rugby Australia’s Director of High-Performance, Peter Horne, added: “We are excited to lock in Isaac for a further two years following a successful season in 2024 that included Tests against Wales, Georgia, South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand, Scotland and Ireland.

“At just 24 years old, Isaac’s best rugby is still ahead of him and we are looking forward to see him continue to evolve at provincial and international level.”