The Sydney Roosters hold the power over whether Angus Crichton will be granted an early release from his NRL contract to make him available for Wallabies selection later this year. Crichton is switching to the rival code at the end of the 2026 season and is aiming to play in Australia’s home Rugby World Cup campaign in 2027 after signing a two-year, $1.6 million deal with Rugby Australia and the Waratahs.
But a clash between this year’s Rugby League World Cup and the Wallabies’ Test schedule presents Crichton with a major dilemma. The rep forward’s NRL contract with the Roosters runs until October 31 after which point he’s free to make the switch. But the Rugby League World Cup runs from October 15 to November 15, raising question marks over Crichton’s availability for Kevin Walters’ Kangaroos side.
Trent Robinson’s Roosters could grant rugby-bound Test star Angus Crichton an early release before the Kangaroos’ Rugby League World Cup campaign in October. Pic: Getty
Crichton is one of the Kangaroos’ most senior players and Walters has already suggested the 11-Test forward would be part of his plans. “I don’t see a reason why Angus wouldn’t make himself available for selection, especially if he’s playing in the NRL and playing good football, which he has been,” Walters said this week.
But the Wallabies would undoubtedly love to have Crichton available as soon as possible to fast-track his return to the code. That could come during two October Tests for the Wallabies that fall after the NRL grand final on October 4 and before the end of the month when Crichton’s current deal with the Roosters expires.
Roosters hold the power to grant Angus Crichton early release
However, the decision on whether or not to grant Crichton an early release to join rugby rests solely with the Roosters and not the NRL. League bosses are powerless to make Crichton stay and fulfil his representative duties with the Kangaroos, if the Roosters agree to let him leave early.
The Roosters have the final say on whether rugby-bound Angus Crichton will be granted an early release from his NRL contract later in 2026. Pic: Getty
(Cameron Spencer via Getty Images)
AAP has reported that salary-cap rules leave sole discretion to the Roosters to determine Crichton’s future before November 1. The Tri Colours are yet to confirm their plans for the 29-year-old but would be unlikely to stand in Crichton’s way if he wanted to switch to rugby once his NRL commitments are finished in 2026.
Crichton would also need extra insurance if he featured in the Kangaroos’ World Cup squad, considering he’d be un-contracted for half of the tournament. But given the Rugby World Cup kicks off the following October and the massive investment that Rugby Australia have made with Crichton, it’s difficult to see him turning down the chance to enter the Wallabies’ fold as soon as possible.
with AAP