Latest news with #Ikitau
The Star
24-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-Wallabies centre Ikitau signs short-term deal with Exeter
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - Wales v Australia - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - November 17, 2024 Australia's Len Ikitau in action before scoring a try Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs/File Photo MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Australia centre Len Ikitau will join Exeter for the 2025-26 Premiership Rugby season before returning to Canberra's ACT Brumbies as part of a Rugby Australia contract extension through to the 2027 World Cup. The 26-year-old has become a hot property since last year's stellar season-ending tour of Europe, highlighted by a sublime flick pass that set up the winning try to Max Jorgensen over England at Twickenham. The sabbatical offered to 39-test Ikitau to play in England echoes those given to long-serving All Blacks in New Zealand. "We believe the short stint in the UK will prove beneficial to Len's continued development and look forward to welcoming him back in the Australian Rugby fold before the first Test of the 2026 season," RA's high performance boss Peter Horne said in a statement on Thursday. An explosive line-breaker and elite defender, Ikitau was a shock omission from Eddie Jones's 2023 World Cup squad but has become one of Joe Schmidt's first-choice midfielders at the Wallabies. "I wanted a change," Ikitau told reporters on Thursday of the England move. "I love the Brums, but I felt like it was time to try a new place out. "It wasn't like I didn't love the game, but I've been in Canberra since 2016. "It's been a long time. I wanted a little refresher, play a different brand of footy, live in a different country with my family and travel if we get the chance to." The terms of Ikitau's deal were not disclosed but his nine-month stint in England will net him about 770,000 pounds ($1.02 million), according to media reports. Ikitau will link up with former Wallabies prop and Brumbies teammate Scott Sio at the struggling Chiefs, who are second-bottom of the Premiership table. ($1 = 0.7529 pounds) (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Reuters
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Wallabies centre Ikitau signs short-term deal with Exeter
MELBOURNE, April 24 (Reuters) - Australia centre Len Ikitau will join Exeter for the 2025-26 Premiership Rugby season before returning to Canberra's ACT Brumbies as part of a Rugby Australia contract extension through to the 2027 World Cup. The 26-year-old has become a hot property since last year's stellar season-ending tour of Europe, highlighted by a sublime flick pass that set up the winning try to Max Jorgensen over England at Twickenham. The sabbatical offered to 39-test Ikitau to play in England echoes those given to long-serving All Blacks in New Zealand. "We believe the short stint in the UK will prove beneficial to Len's continued development and look forward to welcoming him back in the Australian Rugby fold before the first Test of the 2026 season," RA's high performance boss Peter Horne said in a statement on Thursday. An explosive line-breaker and elite defender, Ikitau was a shock omission from Eddie Jones's 2023 World Cup squad but has become one of Joe Schmidt's first-choice midfielders at the Wallabies. "I wanted a change," Ikitau told reporters on Thursday of the England move. "I love the Brums, but I felt like it was time to try a new place out. "It wasn't like I didn't love the game, but I've been in Canberra since 2016. "It's been a long time. I wanted a little refresher, play a different brand of footy, live in a different country with my family and travel if we get the chance to." The terms of Ikitau's deal were not disclosed but his nine-month stint in England will net him about 770,000 pounds ($1.02 million), according to media reports. Ikitau will link up with former Wallabies prop and Brumbies teammate Scott Sio at the struggling Chiefs, who are second-bottom of the Premiership table. ($1 = 0.7529 pounds)
Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Wallabies centre Ikitau signs short-term deal with Exeter
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - Wales v Australia - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - November 17, 2024 Australia's Len Ikitau in action before scoring a try Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs/File Photo REUTERS MELBOURNE - Australia centre Len Ikitau will join Exeter for the 2025-26 Premiership Rugby season before returning to Canberra's ACT Brumbies as part of a Rugby Australia contract extension through to the 2027 World Cup. The 26-year-old has become a hot property since last year's stellar season-ending tour of Europe, highlighted by a sublime flick pass that set up the winning try to Max Jorgensen over England at Twickenham. The sabbatical offered to 39-test Ikitau to play in England echoes those given to long-serving All Blacks in New Zealand. "We believe the short stint in the UK will prove beneficial to Len's continued development and look forward to welcoming him back in the Australian Rugby fold before the first Test of the 2026 season," RA's high performance boss Peter Horne said in a statement on Thursday. An explosive line-breaker and elite defender, Ikitau was a shock omission from Eddie Jones's 2023 World Cup squad but has become one of Joe Schmidt's first-choice midfielders at the Wallabies. "I wanted a change," Ikitau told reporters on Thursday of the England move. "I love the Brums, but I felt like it was time to try a new place out. "It wasn't like I didn't love the game, but I've been in Canberra since 2016. "It's been a long time. I wanted a little refresher, play a different brand of footy, live in a different country with my family and travel if we get the chance to." The terms of Ikitau's deal were not disclosed but his nine-month stint in England will net him about 770,000 pounds ($1.02 million), according to media reports. Ikitau will link up with former Wallabies prop and Brumbies teammate Scott Sio at the struggling Chiefs, who are second-bottom of the Premiership table. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
24-04-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Wallabies centre Ikitau signs short-term deal with Exeter
MELBOURNE :Australia centre Len Ikitau will join Exeter for the 2025-26 Premiership Rugby season before returning to Canberra's ACT Brumbies as part of a Rugby Australia contract extension through to the 2027 World Cup. The 26-year-old has become a hot property since last year's stellar season-ending tour of Europe, highlighted by a sublime flick pass that set up the winning try to Max Jorgensen over England at Twickenham. The sabbatical offered to 39-test Ikitau to play in England echoes those given to long-serving All Blacks in New Zealand. "We believe the short stint in the UK will prove beneficial to Len's continued development and look forward to welcoming him back in the Australian Rugby fold before the first Test of the 2026 season," RA's high performance boss Peter Horne said in a statement on Thursday. An explosive line-breaker and elite defender, Ikitau was a shock omission from Eddie Jones's 2023 World Cup squad but has become one of Joe Schmidt's first-choice midfielders at the Wallabies. "I wanted a change," Ikitau told reporters on Thursday of the England move. "I love the Brums, but I felt like it was time to try a new place out. "It wasn't like I didn't love the game, but I've been in Canberra since 2016. "It's been a long time. I wanted a little refresher, play a different brand of footy, live in a different country with my family and travel if we get the chance to." The terms of Ikitau's deal were not disclosed but his nine-month stint in England will net him about 770,000 pounds ($1.02 million), according to media reports. Ikitau will link up with former Wallabies prop and Brumbies teammate Scott Sio at the struggling Chiefs, who are second-bottom of the Premiership table. ($1 = 0.7529 pounds)
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wallabies star commits through to next Rugby World Cup
Star centre Len Ikitau will be available for the next World Cup after re-signing with Rugby Australia and the Brumbies until the end of 2027. The 26-year-old signed a flexible deal with RA that allows him to take a sabbatical with the Exeter Chiefs in the UK Premiership beginning in late 2025, before he returns to Australian rugby ahead of the 2026 international season. Making his Test debut against France in Melbourne in 2021, Ikitau has earned 39 caps and played 69 Super Rugby matches for the Brumbies. While he was a shock omission from the 2023 World Cup, Ikitau was a regular starter under Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt last year. He capped a strong 2024 campaign with a stellar spring tour, that saw him capture headlines for his audacious flick pass that sent Max Jorgensen over for the Wallabies' match-winning try against England at Twickenham. "I'm really happy to have my future sorted and I can now put my full focus in performing well for the Brumbies and hopefully the Wallabies later this year," Ikitau said in a statement. "I'd like to thank the Brumbies and Rugby Australia for their flexibility in this agreement and my family and I are looking forward to a unique life experience in the UK with Exeter. "To know we'll be coming back home to Canberra and the Brumbies is very reassuring, especially with the home Rugby World Cup not far away." What a centre partnership this will be 🤩Henry Slade 🤝 Len Ikitau#JointheJourney | @premrugby — Exeter Chiefs (@ExeterChiefs) April 23, 2025 RA's director of high performance Peter Horne said they believed an overseas stint would be good for Ikitau's development. "Such is his standing in the game, Len's services were in high demand by clubs and leagues around the world but he made clear from the start his desire to be a long-term Wallaby and his excitement to represent his country at a home Rugby World Cup in 2027," Horne said. "We believe the short stint in the UK will prove beneficial to Len's continued development and look forward to welcoming him back in the Australian rugby fold before the first Test of the 2026 season."
