Clermont Auvergne hooker Folau Fainga’a will return to Australia for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, after penning a deal with Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs.

The 30-year-old front-rower has amassed 38 caps for the Wallabies to date, but last donned the Gold jersey in 2022 during the end-of-year tour.

He is the latest player to return home from the Top 14, joining former Bordeaux-Begles back-rower Pete Samu in making the switch.

As a result, Fainga’a will be available for selection for the 2027 Rugby World Cup

‘I feel I have plenty to offer on and off the field’

Commenting on the move, Fainga’a said: “I couldn’t be more excited to return to Australia, and particularly to my home city of Sydney with the NSW Waratahs.

“The Waratahs is somewhere I started my professional rugby journey in the Under-20s and to be coming back to work under Dan and play with some guys I know really well is something I’m massively looking forward to.

“To be closer to family is something I’m grateful for as well, after being away from them for nearly 10 years now.

“I feel I have plenty to offer on and off the field and am looking forward to working hard and giving myself every opportunity to make a positive impact on Australian Rugby.”

His return to Australia, and therefore the Wallabies selection pool, comes at a timely juncture for their hooker stock following the retirement of Dave Porecki after the British and Irish Lions series.

In that time, Billy Pollard, Josh Nasser and Brandon Paenga-Amosa have all had gametime in Joe Schmidt’s side.

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Rugby Australia’s Director of High Performance, Peter Horne, added: “Folau is an experienced player who knows what it takes to compete and prepare at the highest level.

“On a wider note, it’s encouraging to see players currently overseas who are looking to return home and contribute to Rugby in Australia.”

Also commenting on the signing of Fainga’a, Waratahs boss Dan McKellar said: “We recruited Folau from ‘Sydney Uni’ in 2017 and saw a dynamic hooker with strong set-piece. Back then, we thought he was a player with the potential to grow and develop into a very good hooker, and he has done that.

“He’s had a good professional career in Super Rugby and at Test level, and at the age of thirty, he still has many years ahead of him.

“With the unexpected retirement of Dave Porecki, we needed to find someone of equal quality in a very short space of time, and we have done that. We are fortunate to have Folau on board.”

“I, like many of our playing group at the Waratahs, know Folau very well. He has strong connections throughout the group. He’s a good man, someone who really adds to any team environment. He’s going to be a great addition to us, adding quality and experience both on and off the field.”

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