Mark Nawaqanitawase is unavailable to play in the Wallabies' Nations Championship Tests in the United Kingdom.
High profile code hopper Mark Nawaqanitawase will not be in action for the Wallabies during their upcoming Tests in the United Kingdom and he could also swap allegiance at Test level.
According to Nawaqanitawase’s agent Milan Volavola-Shankar, the former Sydney Roosters star has informed Rugby Australia that he is unavailable for the Wallabies’ away Nations Championship clashes against England, Scotland and Wales.
Also eligible to play for Fiji and Italy
Apart from that, the 26-year-old winger is also considering playing for Fiji, who he qualifies for through his biological father, while he is also eligible to represent Italy in the international arena.
“Mark will not be available for international rugby this year,” his agent Volavola-Shankar told Code Sports. “He informed (Wallabies coach) Les Kiss of his decision in July, and Rugby Australia has also been notified.
“Mark’s immediate focus is on his next chapter in Japan, where he will join the Panasonic Wild Knights and concentrate on settling into the club environment and preparing for the season ahead.
“As of August next year, Mark will have completed his three-year international stand-down period. With his heritage making him eligible to represent both Italy and Fiji, he remains open to all options regarding his international future.
“At this stage, Mark’s priority is establishing himself in Japan and continuing to develop his rugby, with any future international decisions to be considered at the appropriate time.”
Nawaqanitawase’s agent is the brother of veteran Fiji fly-half Ben Volavola.
Wallabies veteran relishing ‘freak’ Mark Nawaqanitawase’s return after sensational NRL stint
Wallabies head coach Les Kiss told reporters during a press conference in Auckland last week that he has not been in contact with Nawaqanitawase recently, after the flyer scored a brace of tries in the Roosters’ 19-18 win over the Newcastle Knights in the NRL grand final earlier this month.
“I haven’t heard back from him yet, but we’ll see,” said Kiss.
‘I had one chat to him in the early part of the season’
“I’ll just let it settle for this week and then have some conversations and see where it goes. I won’t know (if he will tour) until I chat to him. I had one chat to him in the early part of the season then said I’d leave him alone.
“I did text him during State of Origin and said ‘don’t play well against Queensland’. I’ve kept a clear mind on that part, but he’s obviously flavour of the month, for sure.”
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Winning the NRL title with the Roosters meant Nawaqanitawase finished his two-year stint in the 13-a-side code in style. He also won a State of Origin series with the New South Wales Blues earlier this year, represented Australia at international level and was named as the NRL’s Dally M Winger of the Year in 2025.
Nawaqanitawase represented the Wallabies in 11 Tests between 2022 and 2023 and was also in action for Australia’s sevens team at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.