Hulking teenage rugby union prop Sio Kite has been offered a historic opportunity with French club Stade Rochelais

A hulking teenage rugby union prop from Queensland has been offered a historic opportunity with French club Stade Rochelais.

Tighthead prop Sio Kite takes the ball forward for Churchie in the 2024 GPS First XV rugby competition.

Rugby Australia is set to allow one of its best teenage prospects walk into the arms of an international rival after being overlooked by top brass officials in his own country.

Hulking 16-year-old Sio Kite, a 200cm tall and 140kg young star, has signed with French club Stade Rochelais, ending a week of turmoil that had the player’s family calling out Rugby Australia for failing to provide the international clearance they sought.

Sio’s father James revealed in an emotional social media post lashing the governing body that the family’s preference was to stay in the Australian system and that the decision to go overseas was tough.

Sio Kite. Super Rugby Under-16 action between the Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs. Picture courtesy of James Auclair.

But they grew frustrated, believing Rugby Australia had refused to provide the clearance for the tight head prop despite repeated efforts for fear of an international poaching raid.

It would have left a potential Super Rugby star without an opportunity in either Australia or France.

Rugby Australia has since confirmed it won’t stand in the way of Kite as they work with World Rugby to get him to France following what they labelled a misunderstanding.

“Rugby Australia received an international player clearance last Tuesday. This is a unique case given the age of the player in question,” a Rugby Australia spokesperson said on the unprecedented situation.

Rugby Australia 2024 Under-16s development selection Sio Kite.

“Accordingly, clarification from World Rugby and Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) was sought to gain a complete understanding of the regulations as they pertain to this uncommon set of circumstances.”

Kite is an exciting raw talent who was a part of the Queensland Reds Under-16s team and who was also named in Rugby Australia Under-16 development squad.

Father James and son Sio say goodbye at Brisbane airport last month ahead of Sio's new opportunity in France.

Last year he played GPS First XV rugby as a 15-year-old at Churchie, a famous Queensland rugby nursery.

Kite, an Australian citizen and born and bred Queenslander from the GPS Gallopers, will still be eligible to play for Queensland if his career progresses.

Sio Kite of Churchie in action last season. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Originally published as Hulking teenage rugby union prop Sio Kite has been offered a historic opportunity with French club Stade Rochelais