Mark Nawaqanitawase will become an Olympian before his move to the NRL after making a late charge into Australia’s rugby sevens team.
The former Wallabies winger has signed with the Sydney Roosters and could play for them this season after the NRL cleared the move on Tuesday.
The former Waratahs flyer will be hoping to bring some silverware with him after winning selection in John Manenti’s side that will arrive in Paris among the many contenders for gold.
While former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper’s bid fell short, Commonwealth Games representative Nawaqanitawase’s raw speed and athleticism was enough to earn him a spot in the 12-man squad named on Wednesday.
Brumbies winger and former sevens regular Corey Toole will also play in Paris, he and Nawaqanitawase able to prove themselves in a last-ditch June training camp.
“We welcome Corey Toole and Mark Nawaqanitawase back to the squad, both of whom have had seamless transitions and add a X-factor to our well-established combinations,” Manenti said.
“We had a really good two weeks in Fiji and Darwin recently and that along with our solid season has the team really well prepared for Paris.”
Rio gold medallists Charlotte Caslick, Sharni Smale, as well as Nick Malouf and Henry Hutchison, will all become Australia’s first triple Olympians in rugby.
Australia’s men finished fourth in the world series while the women won the title, their rivalry with New Zealand likely to reach new heights in France.
AUSTRALIAN RUGBY SEVENS SQUADS FOR PARIS OLYMPICS
* MEN: Nick Malouf (capt), Ben Dowling, Matthew Gonzalez, Henry Hutchison, Nathan Lawson, Maurice Longbottom, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Henry Paterson, Dietrich Roache, Hayden Sargeant, Corey Toole, James Turner. (Reserves: Josh Turner, Michael Icely).
* WOMEN: Charlotte Caslick (capt), Bridget Clark, Dominique du Toit, Tia Hinds, Maddison Levi, Isabella Nasser, Faith Nathan, Sariah Paki, Kaitlin Shave, Sharni Smale, Bienne Terita. (Reserves: Kahli Henwood, Sidney Taylor).
https://thewest.com.au/sport/olympics/nawaqanitawase-earns-olympic-nod-before-nrl-defection-c-15226984
