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Major League Rugby

Wallabies great Matt Giteau backflips on retirement to join surprising new club

By Finn Morton

19 Dec 2023

Matt Giteau scores against England at the 2015 World Cup, the tournament he played in thanks to the Giterau rule (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Legendary Wallabies playmaker Matt Giteau has backflipped on his initial plans to retire from professional rugby by signing with San Diego Legion for the 2024 Major League Rugby season.

Giteau’s last taste of professional rugby came in the North American competition – which now only includes American sides after Toronto Arrows ceased operations – with the LA Giltinis.

The 41-year-old won an MLR championship alongside Australian great Adam Ashley-Cooper and another capped Wallaby in Dave Dennis – who had both helped the Waratahs win a Super Rugby title in 2014.

Matt Giteau making the move to SD ✍️✍️🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/coDtI4c7GB
— San Diego Legion Rugby (@SDLegion) December 20, 2023

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With the Legion looking to go a couple better next season after bowing out in the Conference finals in July, the San Diego franchise has shown a positive sign of intent by signing Giteau.

“We are over the moon to secure the services of Matt for the upcoming season,” Head coach an Director of Rugby, Danny Lee, said in a statement.

“To have a highly experienced, international player of Matt’s calibre join the Legion in something very exciting.

“He is a world-class player that will bring an incredible wealth of knowledge, competitive attitude and drive to succeed with him that will no doubt spread throughout the squad.

“We can’t wait to get the former MLR winner onboard.”

Matt Giteau’s rugby CV practically speaks for itself. Having played at three Rugby World Cups, Giteau is widely considered one of the greatest Wallabies of all time.

Giteau played 103 Test matches in Wallaby gold and scored an incredible 698 against the world’s best teams.

The playmaker has also starred at club level both in Australia and at various sides around the world.

After helping the Brumbies win two Super Rugby titles in 2001 and 2004, Giteau went on to win three European titles with French heavyweights Toulon.

Giteau also played for the Western Force in Australia, Tokyo Sungoliath in Japan, and returned to the ACT Brumbies for a second stint ahead of the 2010 season.

But this next chapter with the San Diego Legion is sure to pique the interest of rugby fans around the world.

“Really excited to be joining San Diego Legion,” Giteau said in a video on the Legion’s social media pages. “Our proud club with some great fans and a great city.

“Can’t wait to get over there and rip in.”

Comments

1 Comment

Bob Marler 348 days ago

FM. At +40, I can barely do a tumble roll out of bed in the morning without pulling something…

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Comments on RugbyPass

Bull Shark 23 minutes ago

'Springbok Galacticos can't go it alone for trophy-hunting Sharks'

Nor 1652 - 1981 if you wanted to get really into this train of thought.

Round about the time England was cruising around the world raping and pillaging. Like “Heroes”. Killing Zulus and Boers and such.

What’s New Zealand or Australia doing for the game in Asia? Will they ever play a game against China - or is that asking too much!?

6 Go to comments

AC 1 hour ago

URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

No I know. Like I mentioned, many would be opposed, most of all France. France's domestic rugby rivals their domestic football, that's how healthy it is.

4 Go to comments

AC 1 hour ago

Harlequins 'riddled with errors' and physically 'weren’t at the races'

It was, perhaps the worst performance I've ever seen from Quins. Also a very un-Quins performance because usually, when they lose, it's because they gave up too many tries even though they scored enough. Haven't been blanked in 10 years. Didn't even let Gloucester get that many, they just simple could not get the ball across the line, couldn't hold on to it really at all.

1 Go to comments

HU 1 hour ago

'Tom has the potential to be better than a British and Irish Lion'

a long long time ago, when I was writing articles myself (as a way to earn some money during my university studies) there was some editing involved .... if I had put up crap like "better than a British Lion" I would have got called into the editor-in-chief's office and been reminded about taking the profession seriously ....

7 Go to comments

HU 1 hour ago

URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

no way France would join .... why would they, the Top14 is perhaps the healthiest competition in (professional) club rugby and even the D2 seems to be up and running ..... I can't see any selling point to be convincing ....

4 Go to comments

ED 2 hours ago

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This teamsheet is different to bears site and planet rugby.

1 Go to comments

Barry 3 hours ago

'Springbok Galacticos can't go it alone for trophy-hunting Sharks'

Always has elevated the profile of African rugby?

They didn't do much for the games profile from 1981 - 1992. Not in a positive sense at least.

6 Go to comments

Bull Shark 3 hours ago

'Tom has the potential to be better than a British and Irish Lion'

What does “better than a British Lion” mean?

As good as a springbok?

7 Go to comments

Hellhound 4 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

On this I agree with you. There were many great teams and many different eras of rugby with very different rule sets. It's actually impossible to declare one team or player as the best ever. However, this is definitely the best SA team SA has ever had. All the accolades speaks for itself.

129 Go to comments

Hellhound 4 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

All you can do is hate on SA. Jealousy makes you nasty and it's never a good look. Those who actually knows rugby is all talking about the depth and standards of the SA players. They don't wear blinders like you. The NH had many years to build the depth and players for multiple competition the SA teams didn't. There will be growing pains. Not least travel issues. The NH teams barely have to travel to play an opponent opposed to the SA teams. That is just one issue. There is many more issues, hence the "growing pains". The CC isn't yet a priority and this is what most people have a problem with. Saying SA is disrespecting that competition which isn't true. SA don't have the funds yet to go big and get the players needed for 3 competitions. It all costs a lot of money. It's over using players and get them injured or prioritising what they can deliver with what are available. To qualify for CC, they need to perform well in the URC, so that is where the main priorities is currently. In time that will change with sponsors coming in fast. They are at a distinct disadvantage currently compared to the rest. Be happy about that, because they already are the best international team. You would have hated it if they kept winning the club competitions like the URC and CC every year too. Don't be such a sourmouth loser. See the complete picture and judge accordingly. There is many factors you aren't even aware of at play that you completely ignore just to sound relevant. Instead of being an positive influence and spread the game and help it grow, we have to read nonsense like this from haters. Just grow up and stop hating on the game. Go watch soccer or something that loves people like you.

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Barry 5 hours ago

URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

The RFU won't go for it especially now they've enhanced hybrid contracts and some control over their international players.

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Barry 8 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

Exactly. They haven't learnt. Their regions and U20s are also whipping boys which is the bigger concern. Nothing coming through.

They maxed out the credit cards to keep their golden generation of players at home. It's now destroyed the game at every level in Wales.

10 Go to comments

Barry 8 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

Nor can the same coach turn it around. That's been proven across the last year. It will be years before they are even competitive again. It's a 5 year + job. No way Gatland will be around for that.

Italy's nadir was around ten years ago and even they were better equipped with their regions, U20s and senior squad and management. Wales have further to fall.

10 Go to comments

Barry 8 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

If they're happy at losing 12 on the bounce, get a regional coach who would be as bad but cost about a sixth in salary.

10 Go to comments

dw 9 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

I'm no expert but I've never seen nz or even aus as doing much for those nations? Both have benefited from their countries players playing for us! I see most of the top nations looking after themselves and maybe it's a world rugby issue?

129 Go to comments

richard davies 9 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

At 600k a year I would think there will be quite a Que. win lose or draw you can blame the small stature of the players and the WRU