British and Irish Lions tour: Will Skelton credits wife Kate with return to Wallabies team

Will Skelton has spoken of the huge sacrifice his wife Kate has made for him to chase his rugby dream as he prepares to return to the Wallabies team to face the British and Irish Lions.

Behind every great man, they say, is a strong woman.

Behind the biggest and strongest Wallaby of all, Will Skelton, is his wife Kate.

When the young couple made the difficult decision to leave Australia in 2017 for an unfamiliar life in England, few could have imagined how Skelton’s story would unfold.

Australian rugby couldn’t quite unleash his full potential.

Whispers went around that he was overweight, unfit, not worth a big contract.

Scouts at Saracens saw a diamond where many here saw a big rock.

So after a short stint at the UK club in 2016, they offered Skelton a two-year deal, and the young couple from Sydney bid farewell to the life and safety they knew, to the unknown on the other side of the world.

Will Skelton with his wife Kate at the British & Irish Lions Test in Brisbane

Will and Kate Skelton with their sons Jude and Julius.

In the following seven years, Skelton won nearly every major trophy in Europe, established himself as one of the world’s best players, and was made captain of the Wallabies for the 2023 World Cup.

“And if my partner wasn’t as supportive or didn’t stand by me, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Skelton said.

“They stop their careers, a lot of the guys who go to play overseas, they leave Australia with their partners and it’s hard for them to work in Europe or in the UK or if you go to Japan, so they stop their career and they jump on your back.

“The bond that you have with your partner is massive.”

Will Skelton with his sons Julius and Jude.

Skelton is keenly aware of the advantage of his unique situation, living in France playing for La Rochelle, while being able to return to the Wallabies fold at different times throughout the year under the eligibility laws that have changed since he first left these shores.

“Playing for the Wallabies is amazing, but there’s so many sacrifices that you make, six months of the year you’re away,” Skelton said.

“For example, like this week, it’s a Friday and the boys’ wives and partners are flying in to see them now.

“I had the luxury to see my missus every time because I didn’t have that pressure and privilege of playing for Australia.

“You’ve got guys like James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, with multiple kids, and their partners are holding down the fort while their husbands live out their dream to play for Australia.

“Yes, it puts bread on the table. But it’s such a special honour to play for Australia and you’ve got to recognise that our girls behind us are the ones who are putting us there, without them the whole place would burn down.”

Will Skelton trains at the MCG on Friday.

Kate, who worked in aged care in NSW, gave up her career to support her husband’s endeavours.

In the years since they’ve been away, Will and Kate have had two boys, four-year-old Julius, and seven-month-old Jude.

With Skelton contracted to La Rochelle until 2028, his sons will likely grow up speaking French.

But the gold jersey is the only one they’ll be wearing.

Highlighting Skelton’s importance to Australian rugby, he has been parachuted straight into the Wallabies’ starting side for their must-win game against the British & Irish Lions at the MCG on Saturday night.

Skelton will be in the Wallabies starting side for their second Test against the British and Irish Lions

The 33-year-old lock might not be available all year round, but any chance Rugby Australia gets, they bring him straight back into the fold. And this is about as big an occasion as it gets, with Skelton last playing against the Lions for the Waratahs in 2013 as a lumbering rookie.

“I’ve been away almost eight years, I’ve been able to be involved in spring tours, and that definitely lights the fire,” Skelton said.

“Whenever I do get the opportunity, I try to put everything into it, add as much as I can because I know it can be short, the journey of a rugby player, and especially the journey of a Wallaby.

“It’s refreshing coming into an international camp with the best players in Australia, I’ve learned so much when I come, I really enjoy the boys and getting around some of my close mates.”

Now is the time for Skelton to use his 135kg frame to skittle a Lions pack full of players that he has dominated in past European Cup finals.

“This is a special time for Australian rugby, it comes every 12 years, I was lucky enough to play against them for the Waratahs, and then to be selected in the Lions squad was amazing,” Skelton said.

“The next step was, ‘Far out I want to play’. I didn’t get the nod last week, but got the nod this week, and as a group we’re super excited for what’s to come this weekend, do-or-die, backs against the wall, at Melbourne where hopefully we can have a lot more Aussie fans.”

Among the 90,000 fans expected at the MCG will be Skelton’s rock, and a whole lot of pebbles.

“It’s such a blessing,” Skelton said. “To be able to be in the squad, my family gets to spend time with my kids, they spend time with their nana, their koro (grandfather), so it’s awesome to be back.”

Originally published as British and Irish Lions tour: Will Skelton credits wife Kate with return to Wallabies team