Incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss has confirmed that he is open to speaking with National Rugby League (NRL) players interested in switching codes ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2027, which will be hosted in Australia for the first time since 2003. With home advantage and growing public interest.
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Rugby Australia is exploring every option to strengthen the national squad, but Kiss insists recruitment will be selective, strategic, and focused on long-term success. Australia’s history of code-switching before major tournaments has delivered major payoffs in the past. Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, and Andrew Walker famously crossed from rugby league to union before the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Helping reignite public interest and boost the Wallabies’ attacking firepower. With the 2027 tournament approaching, similar opportunities are emerging again, but this time, the process will be far more structured. Several high-profile players have already confirmed moves. Sydney Roosters Star Angus Crichton will join the NSW Waratahs in 2027 after completing his 11th NRL season.
While teammate Mark Nawaqanitawase has announced he will leave at the end of the year to play rugby union in Japan with the Saitama Wild Knights. These switches have reignited discussion about which league stars could strengthen.
The Wallabies are chasing World Cup success on home soil. Speaking to SENQ Breakfast, Kiss said Rugby Australia and CEO Phil Waugh are willing to listen to anyone interested in pulling on the gold jersey, but stressed that not every switch will be approved.
Rugby World Cup: Kiss Outlines Careful Code-Switching Criteria
Some agents and players are interested, Kiss said. We’ll listen to anyone and talk to them, but we’ll be very careful about the decisions we make. We’ve already got a lot of good players in our rugby ranks, so every move has to benefit the whole program. Kiss explained that recruitment decisions will be based on several factors, including positional depth, team balance, and rugby experience.
Besides how well a player fits the Wallabies’ playing style. He said the Rugby World Cup Australia is determined not to undermine players who have worked through the domestic system by blocking their pathways with unnecessary code-switching recruits.
He said. We ask: do they fit? Is that position something we need to strengthen? Will it help the group? Have they played rugby before? These things all matter. One of the key areas Kiss is targeting is speed, particularly in the backline. He believes modern international Rugby World Cup demands explosive pace, agility, and strong instincts, qualities often found in elite rugby league outside backs.
It’s probably more in the backs than the forwards, Kiss said. That forward game is not easy to learn if you haven’t grown up in Rugby World Cup scrums, lineouts, breakdowns; they’re technical areas. But backs with speed, footwork, and a feel for space can adapt much faster.
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Rugby World Cup Final: Building a Balanced Wallabies Squad for 2027
Kiss specifically highlighted Dolphins star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as the type of athlete who could thrive in union, noting his background in rugby schools and his natural pace and evasiveness. He also praised Crichton, who previously represented Australian Schoolboys in rugby union and built a reputation as a powerful and skillful midfielder.
Guys like that with speed, agility, and the ability to anticipate the game are valuable in any code, Kiss said. They can open matches up and change momentum. The growing interest from NRL players reflects both the prestige of the Rugby World Cup and the opportunity to represent Australia on the sport’s biggest stage.
With the tournament set to take place across multiple Australian cities in 2027, Rugby World Cup Australia expects record crowds, increased grassroots participation, and renewed commercial momentum for the code. However, Kiss has made it clear that recruitment is not about chasing headlines or signing big names for marketing purposes.
Instead, the focus is on building a balanced, competitive squad that blends experienced Wallabies with carefully selected cross-code athletes who can genuinely raise standards. There’s no point bringing players across if they don’t make the team better, Kiss said. We want players who complement what we already have, not players who disrupt pathways or create bottlenecks.
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Rugby World Cup: Les Kiss Era Begins with Japan Test
His first match in charge is scheduled for August 8 against Eddie Jones’ Japan, a symbolic opening fixture against one of international rugby’s most innovative coaches. That match will provide the first glimpse of Kiss’s tactical vision and selection philosophy, but the broader focus remains firmly on 2027. With just over a year to build momentum.
Integrate new talent and sharpen combinations. Rugby World Cup Australia is entering a critical phase of planning. The Wallabies’ rebuild comes at a time when Australian rugby is eager to reassert itself on the global stage after a difficult World Cup campaign in 2023. The return of a home tournament presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore pride in the gold jersey and reconnect with fans nationwide.
For NRL players considering the switch, the message from Kiss is clear: doors are open, but standards will be high he said. But we’ll make sure we’re not sidelining players who’ve put years into the game. Every decision has to serve the team, the program, and Australian rugby as a whole.
As the road to Rugby World Cup 2027 continues, the balance between nurturing domestic talent and recruiting elite cross-code athletes could define the Wallabies’ fortunes. Under Les Kiss, Australia appears committed to a smarter, more measured approach, one that prioritises speed, skill, depth, and long-term success over short-term excitement.
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