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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.
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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.
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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.
Well, the difunctional thinking that Quade is the solution for number 10, he showed me everything he is not today in Pretoria, playing opposite rookie Maine Libbok? Eddie, you couldn’t keep it closer than 31 points?
I hope only good things for Noah. Leave Australia, prove through success your adversaries today were overpaid idiots.
Correct decision not to select him. It’s pretty simple. He’s a very good club player. But is not a world class 10. Wallabies can’t win a World Cup with a good club player at 10. You need a 10 that is in the top 3 in the world. Lolesio isn’t even in the top 10 in the world. He might get there in time with hard work, but he’s not there yet.
Sad to see a talented player treated badly like this. Better off making Money overseas and if International Rugby is what you desire try your luck with Manu Samoa. Build your equity in your CV.
In the absence of any journalism, Noah’s going on a medical joker contract. He’ll be in France while the RWC is on. Still signed for the Brumbies through to the end of next year
He last played a test for Australia in Sep 5, 2021, which means he could become available to changing allegiance to NZ from Sept 2024. He's a young guy, could spend a couple of years overseas, get some more experience, then sign to an NZR Super team and be eligible to be selected for the ABs.
Good on him. They've done little to support him, using him like a yoyo.