ACT Brumbies star backrower Rob Valetini has committed his future to Australian Rugby by signing a four-year extension with the club and Rugby Australia through to a home Rugby World Cup in 2027.
The 24-year-old is entering his prime years as Australian Rugby looks forward to a golden decade including a British and Irish Lions tour in 2025.
Valetini became the Brumbies’ youngest player ever to earn 50 Super Rugby Caps in 2022 and has already claimed the club’s prestigious Brett Robinson Players’ Player of the Year award after a breakout season in 2021.
He made his Wallabies debut in 2019 against Samoa and has gone on to make 30 appearances in the gold jersey to date, featuring in 29 of Australia’s past 34 Test matches dating back to the 2020 Rugby Championship.
Valetini will start in the backrow in tomorrow night’s Super Rugby Pacific opener against the Waratahs in Sydney and said he was looking forward to continuing his career in Canberra.
“I’m thankful for this opportunity and grateful for the support from my family and friends in my rugby journey so far,” said Valetini.
“The boys at the Brumbies are like family now and coming into work every day with them, playing alongside my mates, is really special.
“I’ve got a lot of goals to achieve for both the Brumbies and the Wallabies and that’s what drives me every day to work hard.”
Valetini was recently crowned the 2022 Australian Super Rugby player of the year, but said he was still looking to secure his place in Eddie Jones’ Wallabies squad later in the year.
“Quite scary. I’d heard he’s quite a tough man,” Valetini said after receiving his award on Thursday.
“So we just chatted a little bit. Mostly about my family and what inspires me to play rugby.”
The powerhouse admitted he found Jones “less scary” in person.
“He’s been smiling a bit so that’s a good sign, I think, at the moment but we’ll have to see come Wallabies time, if I’m there when the squad’s named,” Valetini said.
Valetini featured in 12 of 14 Wallabies Tests in 2022 but the Brumbies star is rightfully anxious about retaining a spot as he competes with a raft of quality back-rowers including the resurgent Harry Wilson, Jed Holloway, Pete Samu, Fraser McReight and Rob Leota.
“Different coach, probably a different style of playing, I definitely think every spot is up for grabs this year and everybody gets a chance to push their case forward during Super Rugby,” Valetini said.
With AAP
