Sydney Roosters and Kangaroos star Angus Crichton will return to rugby union in 2027, signing a two-year deal with the NSW Waratahs and Rugby Australia as he pursues his childhood dream of representing the Wallabies at the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil.

The 29-year-old backrower confirmed his code switch on Wednesday, becoming the latest high-profile NRL player to join the exodus to rugby union ahead of Australia’s hosting of the global tournament. Crichton will complete the 2026 NRL season with the Roosters before linking up with the Waratahs, where he will reunite with former teammate Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

The move represents a homecoming of sorts for Crichton, who starred in rugby union during his schoolboy years at Scots College, representing Australian Schoolboys in 2014 as a centre and number eight. His journey to this point has been circuitous – turning down a Waratahs academy contract to sign with South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2016, going on to play 198 NRL matches, winning a premiership with the Roosters in 2019, and establishing himself as an elite representative player with 17 State of Origin appearances for NSW and 11 Test caps for the Kangaroos.

Crichton’s decorated rugby league career includes winning the prestigious Wally Lewis Medal as State of Origin player of the series in 2024, whilst he also featured for Australia on their 2025 Ashes Tour. His consistent excellence at the highest level – maintaining above 90 per cent tackle efficiency in eight of his 10 seasons – has made him one of rugby league’s premier forwards.

“It’s incredibly exciting to be returning to the sport I played throughout my childhood,” Crichton said in a statement released by Rugby Australia. “Growing up in Young, I have great memories driving up on buses to Canberra with the other farmers and their families for the Tahs-Brumbies game every year. To have a chance to play in the same Waratahs jersey as Lote Tuqiri, my favourite rugby player as a kid, is something special. I grew up with a Wallabies jersey and poster on my wall and my dream was to one day represent them.”

The signing represents a significant coup for Rugby Australia, which has been strategically targeting rugby league players with previous union experience who can quickly adapt to the 15-man game. Crichton’s deal, reported to be worth approximately £325,000 per season, includes a get-out clause following the 2027 World Cup, providing flexibility for both player and organisation.

Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh welcomed the acquisition enthusiastically. “We are thrilled to be bringing Angus back to rugby ahead of a momentous 2027 season, highlighted by a once-in-a-generation home Rugby World Cup,” Waugh stated. “Angus excelled as a rugby player through the schoolboy and junior ranks and we believe he will make a strong contribution to the performance and culture of Australian Rugby. He has developed into an elite talent and leader in rugby league and now has the opportunity to showcase his talent on the unique global platform that rugby provides.”

The tactical positioning of Crichton within the Wallabies structure presents intriguing possibilities. At 102 kilograms, the powerful ball-runner possesses the physical attributes and offloading ability that could translate effectively to inside centre, following the template established by Sonny Bill Williams when he successfully transitioned from rugby league backrower to union midfielder. Alternatively, Crichton could be deployed as a ball-carrying flanker or number eight, utilising his edge running skills developed in rugby league.

Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar expressed confidence in Crichton’s ability to adapt. “We’re pleased to add someone of Angus’ calibre to the Waratahs for 2027,” McKellar said. “He’s the ultimate professional who will bring a high level of physicality and edge to the group. With his rugby union background, I’m sure he’ll be able to adapt quickly and will be raring to go when he arrives.”

Should Crichton establish himself at inside centre, it could facilitate tactical flexibility for the Wallabies, potentially allowing John Eales medallist Len Ikitau to return to his preferred number 13 jersey, whilst freeing Suaalii to operate at fullback or wing where his exceptional aerial skills could be maximised.

However, Rugby Australia’s Director of High Performance Peter Horne will be mindful of the cautionary tale of Sam Burgess, whose ill-fated switch from rugby league prop to England’s inside centre for the 2015 Rugby World Cup ended with the hosts’ pool-stage elimination and Burgess’s swift return to league. The contrasting success of Ben Te’o, who thrived for Leinster and England after making a similar transition, demonstrates the unpredictability of such moves.

Peter Horne emphasised the strategic importance of the signing. “The signing of Angus is an important step as we continue to build depth across Australia’s Super Rugby Pacific squads and ensure internal competition for national selection,” he explained. “Angus has a deep connection with rugby union as a former Australian Schoolboys representative and has consistently played at the highest level in league. We’re looking forward to bringing him back to rugby and introducing his unique experiences and skillset into our environment from next season.”

Crichton’s return to rugby union comes during a significant period of cross-code movement. His Roosters teammate Mark Nawaqanitawase has signed to play in Japan’s League One competition in 2027, also positioning himself for World Cup selection, whilst speculation regarding Zac Lomax’s potential code switch appears to have cooled after Rugby Australia declined to offer substantial top-up payments. Lomax now seems likely to remain in the NRL with Melbourne Storm.

The 2027 Rugby World Cup on Australian soil represents a unique opportunity for Rugby Australia to capitalise on home advantage and national interest. The recruitment strategy focusing on players with rugby union backgrounds who can transition quickly reflects a pragmatic approach from Wallabies coach-in-waiting Les Kiss and current coach Joe Schmidt.

For Crichton, the decision represents the fulfilment of a long-held ambition. He came close to switching codes in 2023, nearly signing with the Western Force, and has maintained friendships within rugby circles. His attendance at Wallabies matches during their 2024 Spring Tour in Europe signalled his continuing interest in the 15-man game.

“I am pleased to have confirmed my plans for beyond this season and look forward to fully focusing on the campaign ahead with my teammates and family at the Roosters,” Crichton concluded, making clear his commitment to finishing his rugby league career strongly before embarking on his union adventure.

As Crichton prepares for his final NRL season, Australian rugby union supporters will eagerly anticipate his return to the code where he first made his mark, hopeful that his elite athleticism, big-game experience and rural roots – those bus trips from Young to Canberra – will translate into Wallabies success when it matters most in 2027.Claude is AI and can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.

Wallabies captain Nick Champion de Crespigny led a new-look Australian side to a hard-fought 19-15 victory over Japan at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Saturday, as the visitors were forced to show tremendous resilience in the opening match of their northern hemisphere tour.

Key moments

14′ – Nick Champion de Crespigny try after tap penalty, Tane Edmed converts (0-7)
29′ – Seungsin Lee penalty goal (3-7)
30′ – Josh Flook try from backline move, Tane Edmed converts (3-14)
Half-time: Japan 3-14 Wallabies
55′ – Shuhei Takeuchi try, conversion missed (8-14)
58′ – Carlo Tizzano try from rolling maul, conversion missed (8-19)
62′ – Ben Gunter try, Seungsin Lee converts (15-19)
Full-time: Japan 15-19 Wallabies

Joe Schmidt’s experimental side featuring 13 changes from their last outing against New Zealand began their five-Test tour with a gruelling battle against Eddie Jones’ determined Brave Blossoms in treacherous conditions at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

A 𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 in Tokyo.

Thanks for the battle, @JRFURugby 🤝#Wallabies pic.twitter.com/wqudy3BNyr

— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 25, 2025

The match began in challenging weather, with humid, rainy conditions making ball handling difficult for both sides. Japan started stronger, with hooker Hayate Era landing several monster hits to rattle the visitors early. Within minutes, the Wallabies were forced into an early reshuffle when lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto departed with a rib injury after just five minutes, bringing Josh Canham into the fray earlier than expected.

The Wallabies steadied and began to build pressure. Champion de Crespigny broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, burrowing over from close range after a botched Japanese lineout. The try came from intelligent decision-making by the new skipper, who opted for a quick tap penalty near the line. Tane Edmed added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

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Disaster struck for the Wallabies in the 22nd minute when replacement lock Canham was “knocked out cold” and forced from the field, leaving them desperately short in the second row. Champion de Crespigny found himself packing down in the second row as Jeremy Williams became “the last lock standing” in Schmidt’s words.

Japan looked threatening after a few passages in Australian territory, and a penalty to Seungsin Lee in the 29th minute got them on the board at 7-3. The Wallabies responded immediately through a well-worked backline move. Hunter Paisami broke the line with an angled charge and found Edmed inside. Fullback Andrew Kellaway then loomed on the angle and offloaded to Queensland centre Josh Flook who raced away to score under the posts in the 30th minute. Edmed’s conversion extended the lead to 14-3.

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Despite dominating possession and territory for the remainder of the half, the Wallabies couldn’t extend their lead as Western Force flanker Carlo Tizzano was denied three separate try-scoring opportunities. The visitors took their 11-point advantage into the break.

Japan emerged from halftime with renewed purpose as rain continued to fall in Tokyo. Eddie Jones had clearly delivered one of his infamous half-time addresses, as the Brave Blossoms played with new vigour. The hosts dominated the third quarter and were rewarded when prop Shuhei Takeuchi crashed over in the 55th minute following a neat interchange at the back of a lineout, reducing the deficit to 14-8.

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Carlo Tizzano finally got his reward for a persistent display three minutes later, the Western Force openside crossing from a powerful rolling maul to restore Australia’s 11-point cushion at 19-8. The conversion attempt from Edmed drifted wide in the difficult conditions.

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Just as the Wallabies appeared to have secured control, Japan struck back through Queensland-born flanker Ben Gunter in the 62nd minute, with Lee’s conversion bringing the hosts within four points at 19-15. The try came moments after Aiden Ross entered the fray, becoming just the fifth player in history to represent both Australia and New Zealand at Test level after playing for the All Blacks in 2021.

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The final quarter became a test of character for the depleted Wallabies as Japan threw everything at them in the pouring rain. Tom Robertson became the third Australian to leave the field through injury, further compounding Schmidt’s selection headaches with England looming next weekend.

With ten minutes remaining, Kippei Ishida broke clear, forcing desperate defence from the visitors. Japan could smell a boilover as they chased their first ever victory over Australia in seven Tests across 50 years. However, a crucial turnover by Hamish Stewart and Hunter Paisami with two minutes left allowed the Wallabies to wind down the clock and escape with a hard-earned four-point victory.

“I don’t think it needed to be that tense,” Schmidt reflected afterwards. “But sometimes that’s the way it goes and you’ve got to just work your way back and go again. I really admired the grit. We actually had to really roll our sleeves up and keep fighting for that one. In those conditions, it was just about what we managed to do.”

For Japan, captain Warner Dearns found some positives despite the defeat. “It was a very disappointing game but the scoreline was close and we should take pride in that,” he said. “I thought it was a good fight.”

Even Jones, facing the Wallabies for the first time since his controversial departure after the 2023 World Cup, offered praise for his former team’s resilience.

“I think it’s really good that Australia’s rising to become a world power again,” Jones said. “The big thing they’ve really developed, the young players, is their ability to stay in the game and keep fighting, not get disappointed with the game. And as a result, they’re in every game.”

The victory snaps a three-game losing streak for the Wallabies and maintains their perfect record against Japan. However, the win comes at a cost with Salakaia-Loto, Canham and Robertson all in doubt for next weekend’s clash with England at Twickenham.

Schmidt’s gamble to rest key personnel such as Fraser McReight, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Max Jorgensen ultimately paid off, though the performance revealed both promising depth and concerning vulnerabilities in the Australian squad as they prepare for tougher assignments on their five-Test northern tour.

Carter Gordon’s brief foray into rugby league has come to an end, with Rugby Australia and the Queensland Reds announcing the return of the 2023 Wallabies flyhalf on a three-year contract that runs through to the end of 2028.

Carter returns through to the end of ‘28⚡️#Wallabies pic.twitter.com/NL4CO4iRi2

— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 13, 2025

The signing, which was finalised in a matter of days according to Reds coach Les Kiss, sees Gordon immediately added to Joe Schmidt’s 34-man Wallabies squad for the upcoming Spring Tour of Japan and Europe. It marks a remarkable turnaround for a player who made just one NRL appearance after his high-profile code switch in 2024.

Gordon, who earned eight Test caps and played at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, left rugby union following the financial collapse of the Melbourne Rebels, for whom he had made 46 Super Rugby appearances. His departure was seen as a significant blow to Australian rugby at the time, with the talented playmaker choosing to sign a two-year deal with the Gold Coast Titans.

However, Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh moved quickly to secure Gordon’s return, negotiating a release from the second year of his NRL contract. It’s understood RA was forced to pay a transfer fee to the Titans, with reports suggesting the deal is worth more than $500,000.

“We are pleased Carter is returning to rugby after excelling as a junior with Sunshine Coast Grammar, Brisbane Boys’ College and Wests in Brisbane before taking the step up to Super Rugby and Test arena at a young age,” Waugh said. “Carter’s signing will ensure additional healthy competition at the Reds and the Wallabies and provides him with a two-year runway to make his case for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.”

For Gordon, the move represents a return to his roots. The Nambour-born playmaker first signed with the Reds as a 17-year-old schoolboy in 2018 but never managed to break into the senior side during three injury-affected seasons. His move to the Rebels in 2021 provided the platform he needed, and he quickly established himself as one of Super Rugby Pacific’s most promising talents.

“I’m stoked to return to the game I grew up playing and loving as a kid, especially with the opportunity to represent the team I grew up supporting, the Queensland Reds,” Gordon said. “I’ve watched both Queensland and the Wallabies from afar over the past year or so, and the journey they’re on motivates me to want to work hard and contribute positively on and off the field.”

Gordon’s rugby league stint was hampered by a serious spinal injury that delayed his debut until the Titans’ final-round clash with the Wests Tigers in September, where he played in the centres. With limited opportunities ahead and a home Rugby World Cup just two years away, the timing proved right for a return. “I’d also like to thank the Gold Coast Titans for the opportunity to grow as a player and person at their club and for all their support for me and my family over the past 16 months,” Gordon added. “I wish the players and the staff all the best for what’s ahead.”

Speaking to reporters in Brisbane, Kiss revealed the speed at which the deal came together, describing the process as “absolutely rapid” and taking just four or five days to complete. “I think there was always something in Carter’s mind that he’d like to come back one day, but from my perspective, this just accelerated in the last four or five days,” Kiss explained. “It was a combined thing in terms of RA and Queensland, just getting it to a point to make things work. I wasn’t involved in that whole process, but as you can imagine, we’re very happy to have Carter coming back to the Reds.”

The Reds coach, who will succeed Schmidt as Wallabies coach following next year’s British & Irish Lions series, was quick to highlight Gordon’s physical attributes whilst also managing expectations around his immediate role. “The one thing about Carter is he’s got a good size about him – he’s got a good height, he’s robust, he’s physical, and he meets all those things to be able to play what is now a very, very challenging position in the game,” Kiss said. “Tens are targeted a lot, and he gives us another quality option to be able to play in that position and balance out how we want to play our game.”

Gordon’s arrival adds depth to the playmaking stocks at both the Reds and Wallabies level. At Ballymore, he joins Tom Lynagh, rising star Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Fijian international Ben Volavola in the flyhalf pecking order. Lynagh, 22, has been omitted from the Wallabies’ Spring Tour squad due to a lingering hamstring issue that has prevented him from training and playing consistently since the British & Irish Lions series.

“He hasn’t had a lot of volume in running, a lot of volume getting over a ball, hasn’t had a lot of volume in his kicking, so we’ve got an opportunity in the next two weeks to just work on that,” Kiss said of Lynagh’s rehabilitation. “We’ve got a plan that we’re putting together with RA to make sure that we get that right. He’ll have a leave period, and then he’ll have a full pre-season with us, and I think that’ll be good for him as well.”

Kiss was careful to emphasise that Gordon faces genuine competition for the No. 10 jersey, particularly praising McLaughlin-Phillips’s attitude and development. “One thing you know about Harry, he’s a competitor and he’s young and learning at a rate of knots as well, so he’ll take this on in a positive way, and we’ve already spoken, and he knows that the challenge is there,” Kiss said. “He didn’t feel entitled to anything beforehand, Harry, so he just wants to fight hard and earn his position as well.”

Gordon has been named alongside Tane Edmed as Schmidt’s playmaking options for the Spring Tour, which begins with a Test against Japan in Tokyo on 25 October. The tour also includes matches against England, Italy, Ireland and France. It presents Gordon with the opportunity to reunite with some familiar faces, including working under Schmidt for the first time since the Wallabies coach took over from Eddie Jones. It was Jones who controversially selected Gordon to start at flyhalf during the 2023 World Cup campaign.

Gordon became Wallaby No. 967 when he debuted off the bench against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld in 2023, making an immediate impression by grubber-kicking ahead, receiving a pass and running more than 60 metres to score a remarkable try. He went on to make three appearances at the World Cup, starting against Georgia and Fiji before coming off the bench against Wales.

However, the tournament proved difficult for both Gordon and the Wallabies. After Australia’s shock defeat to Fiji in Saint-Étienne, where Gordon spilt a box kick that led to Fiji’s only try, he was dropped to the bench and later joined the injury list before the team’s elimination in the pool stages.

Kiss was adamant that Gordon’s versatility will prove valuable for the Reds, noting that the playmaker can operate at flyhalf, inside centre and fullback – positions where all of Queensland’s options can also play. “If you look at all our tens, they give something different, and that’s a real plus for us as well, and they can all play 12, and they can all play 15, which is fantastic,” Kiss said. “In every Super Rugby Pacific season, there are challenges with how byes are placed and travel periods. Increasing depth across our squad is definitely helpful.”

For Waugh and Rugby Australia, Gordon’s return represents a significant coup in their strategic approach to the 2027 World Cup cycle. With the tournament to be hosted on home soil, having Gordon back in the system provides crucial depth and competition in the crucial flyhalf position. “Rugby Australia has taken a strategic approach to player contracting this World Cup cycle and we are delighted to bring Carter back into the system,” Waugh said.