Wallabies legends have questioned the intentions of Mark Nawaqanitawase’s agent, Milan Volavola-Shankar, after he reportedly suggested the superstar winger could be eligible to play for Italy or Fiji ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Nawaqanitawase has arrived in Japan at the Saitama Wild Knights ahead of the 2026/27 season after an incredibly successful two-year stint with the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League.
Averaging a try a game in rugby’s 13-man code, Marky Mark, as he is fondly called, is expected to be hot property when he laces his boots back up in union.
His arrival back in the 15-man game will not necessarily be long-term, however, as he has only signed a two-year deal in Japan. But it’s not the transfer of club sides that is currently generating interest; it’s his allegiance to the national side.
Although Nawaqanitawase is a fully capped Wallabies international, with over a handful of tries to his name, he has not played for the national side in over three years, with his last appearance in the green and gold coming against Portugal in the pool stages at the 2023 World Cup.
Of both Italian and Fijian heritage, Nawaqanitawase is now eligible to switch nations due to the international stand-down laws, but Drew Mitchell believes the rumours surrounding his defection are simply a money-motivated “ploy”.
“Maybe it’s just a bit of a ploy for Rugby Australia to have to dip into their coffers if they want him to play for us, because otherwise we get him really just off the back of Panasonic paying for him to come back to rugby,” he said on the KOKO podcast.
“If he doesn’t want to be with us, then why pay for that?”
Formal Wallabies playmaker Matt Giteau was rather more blunt with his assessment, saying what many Australians are likely thinking. “Whatever he wants to do, he should go and do,” he said.
“As a proud Wallaby and a proud Australian, I want people that want to play for our country to play for our country. So if you don’t feel honoured, or that’s not where your allegiance lies, that’s fine too.
“You’ve got people that choose different countries, whatever. I want the people that want to play for the Wallabies to play for the Wallabies. If you don’t, then go somewhere else.”
Nawaqanitawase was a big loss when he left union aged just 23, but now that he has returned with three seasons of top-level league under his belt, he will hopefully have evolved into a world-class talent. But Giteau doesn’t believe that Rugby Australia should have to pay for that.
“I know what Marky can bring, and how good he has been in league and what he could offer rugby,” he said. “He could be huge for us, but if he doesn’t want to be with us, then why pay for that?
“Don’t pay to have his loyalty. I just don’t agree with that. Your loyalty should come off the back of wanting to play for the jersey.”
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Looking back at his own career, alongside panellists Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stephen Larkham and Mitchell, Giteau added: “For us, Drew, Toulon were paying our fees. They weren’t paying us, but we didn’t ask Australian rugby to come in because at that time you are honoured and you want to go play for your country. If Japan’s paying for your salary, great. That’s good for us.”
Mitchell agreed, saying: “I’m hoping maybe that’s just the angle rather than serious consideration for playing for someone else.”