Australia is about to retain one other gifted Insurgent, with Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs asserting Wallabies prop Isaac Kailea has signed a brand new contract with Dan McKellar’s facet for 2025.
The 24-year-old had a breakout season in 2024, along with his robust Tremendous Rugby Pacific kind rewarded with choice in his first Wallabies squad in July, adopted by a global debut within the first Take a look at in opposition to Wales in Sydney.
His transfer was completely introduced on The Roar at first of August, because the Waratahs introduced an imposing assistant teaching employees for the 2025 season – and it’s anticipated fellow Rebels Ethan Dobbins, Angelo Smith and Daniel Maiava will comply with Kailea to Daceyville.
Born and raised in Melbourne, the loosehead prop will additional strengthen the Waratahs’ high quality and depth within the entrance row, which additionally options his nationwide teammates Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou, in addition to Dave Porecki.
Of Tongan and Chilean descent, Kailea performed again row as a junior earlier than making the shift to the entrance row in 2018. He rose by way of the Victorian junior system earlier than debuting for the Melbourne Rebels as 20-year-old in 2021 and loved his finest season of Tremendous Rugby Pacific this 12 months the place he was among the many membership’s prime performers in his 13 appearances.
Kailea has featured in each Wallabies squad to date in 2024, enjoying in 4 of the 5 Exams to this point. He’ll journey with the group to Argentina forward of their back-to-back Exams in opposition to Los Pumas in La Plata and Santa Fe as a part of the Rugby Championship.
“I’m very completely happy to be becoming a member of the Waratahs and excited in regards to the alternative to play for such a proud membership and enhance my recreation beneath Dan McKellar and the teaching employees,” Kailea stated in a press assertion.
“I’m inspired by the route the Waratahs are shifting in and am trying ahead to working arduous with some pinnacle occasions on the horizon for Rugby in Australia.”
His transfer has warmly welcomed by Waratahs Director of Efficiency, Simon Raiwalui and Rugby Australia’s Director of Excessive-Efficiency, Peter Horne, as they proceed to drive to maintain as a lot of the Rebels gamers in Australia
“Isaac is an effective younger participant and probably the most promising props within the nation,“ stated Raiwalui within the announcement press assertion.
He’s robust, sturdy and a dynamic scrummager, and importantly, his finest years are forward of him.
“I’m excited to see how he gels with the likes of Angus Bell, David Porecki and Taniela Tupou and the constructive influence he’ll make subsequent 12 months.”
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“It’s an actual constructive to have Isaac commit his instant future to Australian Rugby,” echoed Horne in the identical press assertion.
“He’s an excellent younger participant who has made robust progress this 12 months and we’re trying ahead to seeing him proceed to work arduous on the Waratahs.”
Isaac Kailea made his Wallabies debut in opposition to Wales in Sydney on July 6, 2024. Picture: Brendan Hertel, Rugby Australia
