Suliasi Vunivalu recommits to Queensland Reds and Rugby Australia for 2023

He was in the sights of Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins, but Suliasi Vunivalu has committed himself to the Reds and Wallabies for 2023.

Suliasi Vunivalu has re-signed with the Queensland Reds and Rugby Australia for 2023. Picture: Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images

Believing he’s yet to “prove himself” since switching codes, star winger Suliasi Vunivalu has rejected overtures from the NRL’s Dolphins to stay loyal to the Queensland Reds and Rugby Australia.

With next year’s Rugby World Cup firmly in his sights, the Fiji-born flyer has re-signed with the Reds and RA for 2023.

Vunivalu, 26, has spent the past two Super Rugby seasons with the Reds following an NRL premiership-winning spell with the Melbourne Storm.

Despite battling hamstring injuries, Vunivalu showed enough form in the latter stages of Queensland’s 2022 Super Rugby Pacific campaign to be named in the Wallabies’ squad for Australia’s three-Test series against England next month.

Suliasi Vunivalu is staying loyal to the Reds and Wallabies. Picture: Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images

“There was talk about me going back to the NRL, but I wanted to stay (with rugby union),” said Vunivalu, who was in the sights of the Dolphins, the Redcliffe-based NRL expansion club, as well as Japanese rugby teams.

“I haven’t really done anything – I just wanted to prove myself.

“I’m glad to back here trying to reach my goal of going to the World Cup and playing for the Wallabies. Playing in a World Cup for Australia was a big reason I made the move to rugby.

“I still have a lot to learn, but Queensland is the best place for me to reach the next level.”

Vunivalu was grateful for the patience and faith in him shown by Reds coach Brad Thorn, another two-code star who represented New Zealand in rugby union and Australia in rugby league.

“He’s helped me so much and I’m looking forward to spending another year with him,” he said of Thorn.

“He’s been (a similar) position. He knew my first couple of games would be rusty and that I was a bit nervous. He was always supportive and always looking after me.”

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said Vunivalu was “an incredible athlete with huge potential”.

“Having him in the Wallabies squad is only going to accelerate his development,” Rennie said.

“His ability in the air is phenomenal and we’ve been impressed with his work ethic and desire to improve all areas of his game.”

Vunivalu said he would be ready for a Wallabies debut if given chance by Rennie against England.

“I’ll back myself every time,” he said.

“If he has that belief in me and wants to throw me in there, I’ll put my hand up.

“We have a special group and I’m really excited for this England series and what this group can do – they set their standards high.”.

Originally published as Suliasi Vunivalu recommits to Queensland Reds and Rugby Australia for 2023