Clermont giants Myles Amatosero sign Eddie Jones, Emmanuel Miafu for Waratahs in Australian rugby revolution.
Finally, it looks like the Waratahs have landed a giant. Miles Amatosero – 203cm, 125kg, 20 – is set to return from France to sign a multi-year contract with the Waratahs and Rugby Australia.
Australian rugby can be delighted to have one back after letting another giant, Emmanuel Meafou, slip through his fingers to join France for his final Six Nations match before becoming eligible for the Blues at the end of December.
New Wallabies coach Eddie Jones is understood to have been influential in encouraging the second-rower to return home, with French clubs including Clermont keen to lock down the exciting emerging star. Once his pen reaches the dotted line, he will be eligible to play for the Wallabies.
As well as touring the Wallabies’ World Cup facilities over the past week, Jones also took time to speak to fit Australian players in France.
The Waverley College product has signed for the Waratahs, having spent the last three seasons with Clermont in the French Top 14.
Claremont second rower Myles Amatosero will return to Australian rugby to join the Waratahs. Photo: Twitter
The second rower signed with Clermont as a teenager and made his debut in the top 14 in 2020 as an 18-year-old.
Amatosero has made 13 appearances for Clermont this season, starting almost half of them, in the Champions Cup.
His departure was a second blow for Clermont as the French side failed to lure Wallabies Jed Holloway to the club.
Amatosero’s expected signing is a major blow for the Waratahs, who have been bleeding since the departure of Michael Cheika in 2015.
Miles Amatosero took the loss against Brive. Photo: Twitter
When Cheika’s Waratahs won the Super Rugby title in 2014, they had Kane Douglas and Jacques Potgieter in the secondary, with Will Skelton coming off the bench. The Waratahs haven’t regained their composure since leaving.
In contrast, the Brumbies currently have three Test locks and the extra meat on their bones has seen them regularly challenge New Zealand rivals and subsequently Super Rugby competitions. They previously had Rory Arnold and Sam Carter before the 2019 World Cup.
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman, who has been watching the lock since his opening as head coach in 2021, has highlighted the second row as one of three key positions in need of strengthening.
Although they failed to sign Douglas from France, they played with several hybrid forwards, including Test strikers Ned Hannigan and Jed Holloway and Hugh Sinclair in the second tier.
Former Chiefs second row Taleni Seau has also strengthened the Waratahs’ secondary this year.
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