Waratahs centre snubs French interest to re-sign

The NSW Waratahs have announced that Lalakai Foketi has re-signed with the side and Australian Rugby on a two-year deal, keeping him in Sky Blue at least until the end of the 2024 season.

Foketi was linked with a return to France with Clermont reportedly interested in his services but the former Australian U20 representative has recommitted to the Waratahs. 

Having played for Bayonne in France, Foketi got his first taste of Super Rugby in Melbourne with the Rebels before three seasons with the Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Foketi would make his debut for the NSW Waratahs in 2018 under Daryl Gibson, playing 12 matches in his first season, and has established himself as a mainstay of the side ever since.

The talented centre formed a devasting midfield partnership with Izaia Perese in 2021 and will run on for his 50th Super Rugby cap this weekend when the Waratahs take on the Fijian Drua.

Foketi’s impressive form in 2021 culminated in selection in Dave Rennie’s Wallabies squad for the series against France and the end of season tour of the Northern Hemisphere where he made his Wallabies debut against Wales.

The Wallabies and Waratah’s centre was thrilled to continue to extend his time in NSW and Australian Rugby.

“My family's happy here and settled and I’m loving playing at the Waratahs, so deciding to extend my time here for another two years was a no brainer,” Foketi said.

“It’s an extremely tight-knit group at the Waratahs and there is a real sense of excitement about what this team can achieve, and I want to play a part in putting this great club back on top.

“I think scratching the surface of international rugby at the end of last year made me incredibly motivated to stay in Australia and to continue to push for higher honours, especially with a World Cup next year. “I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to extend my time with the Waratahs and the Wallabies.”

Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman was delighted to retain the services of his strike centre.

“Lalakai is a really likeable, super humble, popular member of the team who genuinely cares about his teammates which is hugely important,” Coleman said.

“He was a little late on the Super Rugby scene and had to bounce around the world before he got his gig here and his dedication and his focus have seen him get the call up with the Wallabies.

“Lalakai is an ultimate all-rounder, he can ball play, he can carry and he’s really strong defensively and he’s now at a point where he's one of the most dangerous strike centres in the league and we’re glad he’s staying.”

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: "La is a quality man who adds a lot to our mob on and off the field."

"He's had a unique journey to the Wallaby jersey and we saw how much it meant to him and our squad when he was selected for his debut in Wales last year.

"His quality distribution and footwork are a genuine point of difference but it’s his diligence to develop all parts of his game that has impressed us."