Horan’s bullish prediction for Nawaqanitawase’s World Cup team
Updated . First published
Wallabies legend Tim Horan is bullish about Mark Nawaqanitawase’s country of choice in 2027.
“He will play for the Wallabies in the Rugby World Cup, there’s no doubt about it,” the well-connected Horan told Nine’s Wide World of Sports.
Semi Radradra of Fiji speaks with Mark Nawaqanitawase of Australia in Saint-Étienne. Getty
“He’s not going to go to Italy, he’s not going to go and play in any other country, at Fiji.”
Nawaqanitawase played 11 Tests for the Wallabies in 2022-23 before embarking on a wildly successful NRL switch with the Sydney Roosters.
The 26-year-old winger wants to settle into his new life in Japan with the Saitama Wild Knights before announcing his plans.
“I will weigh up my options and make a decision next year on my international future,” he said.
Nawaqanitawase is also eligible to play for Fiji and Italy.
“There’s two reasons why Mark Nawaqanitawase is coming back to rugby union,” two-time World Cup winner Horan said.
“One is go to Japan and earn $1.5 million for just six months, for the year, he’s going to do that twice. And then you want the best opportunity in a Rugby World Cup, to go deep in that tournament.
“People might criticise the Wallabies for the last two games (heavy Bledisloe Cup losses), but the best side (of the three options) is the Wallabies. The best chance for Mark Nawaqanitawase to get into a semi-final of a Rugby World Cup is with the Wallabies.”
Fiji - now coached by World Cup winner Jake White - and Italy might argue with that given both countries have knocked over Australia in recent years.
Nawaqanitawase swapped jerseys with another star code-hopper, Semi Radradra, after Fiji’s historic World Cup victory over the Wallabies in Saint-Étienne in 2023.
Wallabies coach Les Kiss says he supports Nawaqanitawase’s decision to take some time before declaring his allegiance.
Les Kiss says negotiations with Mark Nawaqanitawase have been positive. Getty Images
Kiss, a former Kangaroos winger, spoke to Nawaqanitawase last week as the story blew up.
“I got to chat to him too, and he knows that we support him,” Kiss said after the Wallabies were hammered 43-21 by the All Blacks in Sydney on Saturday.
“He’s taking his time, he’s going to get back into rugby and he’ll make his decisions. But he knows our thoughts, and we’ve got a home World Cup next year.
“He can make a choice around the opportunities there for him. We are right behind him to support him at this time any way to get some rugby under his belt in Japan and re-learn the game.”
Nawaqanitawase has ruled himself out of contention for Australia’s Nations Championship Tests in the northern hemisphere next month.
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