How a rev-up from Mum put Nawaqanitawase on the path to being a Wallaby

Rising Waratahs and Wallabies star Mark Nawaqanitawase is staying in Australian rugby for another season, and he can thank his mother for delivering a number of hard truths in his teenage years.

The 22-year-old, who made his Wallabies debut against Italy last year in Florence, wanted to sign a long-term deal with the Waratahs but had to settle for a one-year extension until the end of 2024.

“I would have liked more; I’d love to stay here as long as I can,” Nawaqanitawase said. “With certain circumstances, we had to agree on something. The one-year [deal] was the best thing at the time.

“Hopefully [I can] win a Super Rugby title with the Tahs and hopefully win a World Cup.

“In a perfect world I’d like to stay [in rugby], but there’s always a but. There’s obviously other things out there that might interest me.”

What does that entail? Playing overseas? Rugby league?

Nawaqanitawase admits he’d consider both but, for now, he’s more than happy in Sydney with dreams of representing the Wallabies at this year’s World Cup in France.

Mark Nawaqanitawase has re-signed with the Waratahs until the end of 2024.Credit: Wolter Peeters

“There’s no place like home,” the NSW winger said. “I’ve got my family in NSW, I was born and bred here, I grew up watching the Waratahs.”

Nawaqanitawase lives at home with his mother, Fiona, and stepfather, Aisake. Both are rugby tragics and travel to watch Nawaqanitawase play.

As a schoolkid honing his skills at St Patrick’s College in Strathfield, all Nawaqanitawase wanted to do was become a professional rugby player. His mother, unsure if he’d ever make the big time, put the hard word on her son that he needed a fall-back option, having missed out on a number of representative teams.

It worked a treat.

“At the time, for her, education was a big thing,” Nawaqanitawase said. “I was just that young kid that was mucking around a bit too much at school. I had that passion to play footy. I was pretty shocked to hear it when Mum wanted me to focus on my education. I knew what I could do. I definitely wanted to have a crack at it. I used a bit of that to be the underdog and show I could do it.”

Mark Nawaqanitawase with his mother, Fiona Tovehi, stepfather, Aisake Tovehi, and relative Malakai. Credit: Wolter Peeters

Despite impressing in all three spring tour Tests last year – he scored two tries against Wales in Cardiff – new coach Eddie Jones says that Nawaqanitawase must prove his worth.

“Mark was impressive in his games for the Wallabies in Europe, but it is a new season in 2023 and he has to earn his position back in the squad,” Jones said. “He is fast and strong, and he scores some spectacular tries, but he’s at his best when he’s doing the hard yards for his team and working off the ball.”

Ahead of the Waratahs’ clash with the Fijian Drua this Saturday, Waratahs coach Darren Coleman labelled Nawaqanitawase an “exceptional talent”.

“We’re thrilled that he has decided to continue his development with us,” Coleman said. “He’s an electric attacking player who has already made a significant impact at the highest levels of the game.”

Wallaroos can win World Cup at home, says new captain

New Wallaroos captain Piper Duck has laid out her bold vision for Australia’s women’s team to win the Rugby World Cup on home soil in 2029.

At the age of 22 and just a year after making her Test debut, Duck was named as the Wallaroos new captain on Thursday, replacing the side’s retiring leader, Shannon Parry.

Newly appointed Wallaroos captain Piper Duck speaks to the media with head coach Jay Tregonning.Credit: Getty

Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning said Duck’s impressive talents as a player, and her leadership capabilities on and off the field, had made her the obvious choice to replace Parry, who is hanging up her boots after a final Test against Fiji on Saturday at Allianz Stadium.

Duck, who captained NSW in Super W this season, was preferred ahead of former Wallaroos captain Grace Hamilton.

Tregonning touted the young back-rower as a potential long-term leader, who could continue in the role through to the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England, and then the following tournament in Australia in 2029.

The Wallaroos impressed in making the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand last year, given most of the leading teams in women’s international rugby are in full-time programs.

But speaking to media on Wednesday, Duck didn’t shy away from expressing her confidence about how the Wallaroos could fare in the 2029 World Cup.

Wallaroos head coach Jay Tregonning, Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos and Shannon Parry speak after Parry announced her retirement.Credit: Getty

“Where we were at World Cup and now, there is already a huge difference, and it’s not even been a year,” Duck said.

“We are on an upward movement right now, and leading into 2025 and the home World cup in 2029, I believe we can win it. If we have the backing and support, as we do right now, from RUPA and Rugby Australia and the community, I think we are going to go further than anyone would believe.”

Rugby Australia announced earlier this year it would begin to pay part-time salaries to a selection of Wallaroos players, and intended to bring in full-time professionalism for the Wallaroos by 2025.

Duck, who hails from Tumut in southern NSW, recounted how she was offered the role by Tregonning last week when grabbing a morning coffee.

“At the time I said to him, ‘You have actually really caught me off guard’,” she said.“It is definitely not something I expected this year, having only debuted a year ago, but very excited and honoured for the position. I am just keen to learn off the other girls in the group, who do have such strong leadership skills.

Piper Duck stands in front of the Rugby Australia building.Credit: Getty

“I asked, ‘Can you give me some time to speak to a few people and think about the decision?’ It is such a big deal and I wanted to make sure I was ready to take on the position, and do my best for the team. I had a few chats with family and a time to think, and got back to Jay.”

Tregonning said Duck ticked all the boxes to step into Parry’s shoes.

“She has this amazing ability to connect with people and have conversations with all stakeholders in the game in a calm and respectful way. She can lead players on the field and off the field, at training and on game day, and has an awesome rapport with everyone around her,” he said.

Duck suffered a syndesmosis injury in the Waratahs’ Super W defeat in the semi-finals and won’t play against Fiji on Saturday. But the Wallaroos are confident the new captain will be available for the Pac Four tournament against New Zealand, USA and Canada, beginning on June 29.

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