Olympics 2024: Nawaqanitawase to earn Paris Sevens berth, move to NRL’s Roosters on hold

Mark Nawaqanitawase will be a shock inclusion in Australia’s rugby sevens team for the Paris Olympics, denying the Sydney Roosters the chance to play him in the NRL this year.

Mark Nawaqanitawase will have the chance to win Olympic gold before joining the Roosters in the NRL. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images

MARK Nawaqanitawase will be a shock inclusion in Australia’s rugby sevens team for the Paris Olympics, denying the Sydney Roosters the chance to play him in the NRL this year.

The 23-year-old Wallabies winger has signed a two-year deal with the Roosters starting in 2025, but after national coach Joe Schmidt left him out of Australia’s 38-man Test squad the NRL club made a request to Rugby Australia to grant Nawaqanitawase an early release.

That situation was made complicated by the fact Nawaqanitawase was drafted into the Australian sevens training camp, with coach John Manenti eyeing him as a player of interest for their Olympics campaign.

And despite his limited time in the sevens system, this masthead can reveal Nawaqanitawase has made the cut for the Olympics – a remarkable achievement given the vastly more experienced players in the group.

Waratahs star Mark Nawaqanitawase during a Super Rugby clash with the Reds earlier this season. Picture: AFP

But it also means the Roosters can’t register Nawaqanitawase before the NRL’s June 30 deadline, which would have allowed them to use him in the latter stages of this season.

It’s understood the Roosters were willing to pay more to get Nawaqanitawase earlier, while RA would have saved on his wage for the final six months of his contract had they granted an early release.

But now Nawaqanitawase’s focus will be on the Paris Games, where Australia will enter as a medal chance, having claimed the World Series last year.

They’ve had mixed results in 2024, but nevertheless possess the talent to knock off heavyweights New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and South Africa on their day.

The Olympics sevens matches run from July 24-30 at Stade de France, and Australia is pooled with Argentina, Samoa and Kenya.

Waratahs' Mark Nawaqanitawase is on his way to the NRL, but not until after the Paris Olympics. Picture: AFP

Nawaqanitawase will return to Australia in early August, and if he continues to be ignored by Schmidt – who is only interested in players available for the 2025 British & Irish Lions series – could again request an early release but won’t be able to take the field for the Roosters.

Meanwhile, after missing out on the Parramatta Eels coaching job, former Wallabies boss Michael Cheika has been named head coach of English club Leicester.

Ironically, Cheika replaces former Wallabies assistant Dan McKellar, who was let go by the club after completing just one year of a three-year deal.

The Roosters had hoped to bring Mark Nawaqanitawase to the NRL this season, but that now be out of the question after his selection in the Australian Sevens squad for the Olympics. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images)

McKellar is now a leading contender for the head coaching job of NSW Waratahs, who while losing Nawaqanitawase next season, will welcome Roosters star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

A key decision-maker in the Waratahs coaching job will be their new director of performance, Simon Raiwalui.

The former head coach of Fiji will be unveiled in the new role on Friday morning, and will work closely with RA in appointing the next Tahs coach after the club parted ways with Darren Coleman following their wooden spoon season that yielded just two wins.

Originally published as Olympics 2024: Nawaqanitawase to earn Paris Sevens berth, move to NRL’s Roosters on hold