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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n The Roosters have just signed a rugby sevens exponent who has represented Australia at the Olympics. Sound familiar?<\/p>\n Dietrich Roache, a two-time Olympian and former sevens teammate of Mark Nawaqanitawase, has signed with the NRL club just before the June 30 deadline. While Nawaqanitawase is switching back to rugby<\/a> at the end of the season, Roache is coming the other way.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n After six years on the Sevens circuit \u2013 including competing at his first Olympics while still in his teens \u2013 Roache will chase another life-long dream after joining the 13-man game.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously I\u2019m very excited, coming from a league background and playing it at school,\u201d Roache said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m keen to get the opportunity to show what I have and get stuck into the work. I feel like it\u2019s a good time. I\u2019m at that halfway mark of an average career.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pretty happy with [my] Sevens [career]. I had a blast there, and it was a dream come true to play for Australia. I\u2019m really lucky to have the opportunity and play professionally for six years.<\/p>\n \u201cWith this opportunity with the Roosters, it\u2019s definitely something I couldn\u2019t say no to. I transitioned [to rugby] as I finished school and that little \u2018what if?\u2019 has always been in the back of my head. I get a chance now to see what I\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p>\n Roache, who turns 25 next week, has scored 70 tries in 30 tournaments across his Sevens career. Some of his most special moments \u2013 including representing Australia at the Paris Olympics and Commonwealth Games \u2013 have been shared alongside teammate Nawaqanitawase.<\/p>\n The prospect of again playing with each other at the Tricolours has them both excited.<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be hilarious,\u201d said Nawaqanitawase from NSW Blues State of Origin camp. \u201cSurreal. Hilarious. It would be everything.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an exciting opportunity. We\u2019ve had some good times together and he\u2019s coming to a great club.\u201d<\/p>\n The Roosters have a history of signing or developing cross-codes stars. They include Sonny Bill Williams, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Joseph-Aukuso Sua\u2019ali\u2019i and, most recently, Nawaqanitawase. Roache said he\u2019s looking forward to learning from the latter.<\/p>\n \u201cMark\u2019s one of my good mates, we were lucky to play together in those big tournaments,\u201d Roache said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s made his stamp in the NRL and he\u2019s obviously a good guy to learn off. I\u2019ll be making sure I chat to him a lot before he leaves to union.\u201d<\/p>\n Roache played rugby league while attending Patrician Brothers College Fairfield, resulting in a short stint at the Dragons, before switching to rugby. It gave him the chance to participate in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, which he describes as \u201clifetime highlights\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI was the youngest person in Tokyo, that was a huge blessing. I was just happy to be there, a bit starstruck,\u201d said Roache, who was 19 at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cI was also able to play in the Paris Olympics and be one of the core members there, it was an unreal experience. It didn\u2019t go the way we wanted, we fell just short of a medal, but I can definitely say it was the best week of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Article Roache has previously clocked a personal best of 4.59 seconds over 40 metres, a time matched by former national sprint champion Trae Williams. The western Sydney product was recently timed at \u201c10 metres per second\u201d, adding even more speed to an already potent Roosters backline.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not too sure how it compares against some of the speedsters in the NRL, but I\u2019ll definitely be backing myself if I get into open space,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Roache has fielded interest from NRL clubs in the past, including Parramatta, Canterbury and South Sydney. However, when the Roosters recently offered a development contract, the timing felt right. While he can play multiple backline positions, his best spot in league is likely to be at left centre.<\/p>\n A hairline fracture in his leg will delay his first appearance for the Roosters, but he\u2019s hopeful of making his NRL debut before the season concludes.<\/p>\n \u201cThat would mean a lot, it\u2019s definitely a goal of mine for the second part of this year,\u201d he said. \u201cThe opportunity to play NRL will definitely be a dream \u2026 I\u2019ve been blessed with a few good opportunities, so I may as well keep riding the wave.\u201d<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Dietrich](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/85070c10c959033a1dd2489ab11c0d5c4cff3d30.jpeg\")
Dietrich Roache (left) and Mark Nawaqanitawase celebrate an Australian Sevens win at the Paris Olympics.AFP<\/p>\n![\"Roache](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4c32ee29450867176e385e036e6a97a0fa14c092.jpeg\")
Roache is topping the world series for points and is second for offloadsGetty<\/p>\n![\"Mark](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/53325bdb9b4cbc752fd130c69bb4f70d710f2e35.jpeg\")
Mark Nawaqanitawase made his State of origin debut this season.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Got](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/6368778f2ca5a0192f3e3ba6ba41c22903668355.jpeg\")
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