‘Dream to play for the Wallabies’: Crichton to depart Roosters for World Cup tilt

Kangaroos and Origin forward Angus Crichton says a childhood dream to play for the Wallabies was behind his decision to depart the NRL and switch codes at the end of 2026.

Crichton became the latest Roosters star to move to rugby after signing a two-year deal with Rugby Australia and the Waratahs.

A former schoolboy rugby star, Crichton’s return to the 15-man game was driven by the 29-year-old’s desire to play for the Wallabies at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, which is being held in Australia.

The star forward informed his Roosters clubmates earlier on Wednesday. After making his debut for Souths in 2016, Crichton will depart the NRL at the end of the Tricolours’ 2026 campaign.

The 11-cap Kangaroo will play alongside ex-Roosters teammate Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at the Waratahs next year, and is being looked at as either an inside centre or a breakaway in rugby.

Crichton played for Scots College’s first XV and for Australian Schoolboys side in 2013 and 2014, as a centre and a No.8. He turned down a contract with the Waratahs academy to move to rugby league, however, and signed with the Rabbitohs.

Crichton has gone on to played 17 Origin games for NSW and win a premiership with the Roosters. But with many friends still playing rugby, Crichton has also entertained the idea of returning to the code several times, and came close to signing with the Western Force in 2023.

With a potential switch for Zac Lomax to rugby over summer providing cover, Crichton and Rugby Australia quietly got a deal done.

“It’s incredibly exciting to be returning to the sport I played throughout my childhood,” Crichton said in a statement.

“Growing up in Young, I have great memories driving up on buses to Canberra with the other farmers and their families for the Tahs-Brumbies game every year. To have a chance to play in the same Waratahs jersey as Lote Tuqiri, my favourite rugby player as a kid, is something special. I grew up with a Wallabies jersey and poster on the wall and my dream was to one day represent them.

“I’m in a position in 2027 to pursue that dream and I would like to thank Rugby Australia and the Waratahs for the opportunity, while also acknowledging and showing gratitude for the wonderful career I’ve had in the NRL.

“I am pleased to have confirmed my plans for beyond this season and look forward to fully focusing on the campaign ahead with my teammates and family at the Roosters.”

RA chief executive Phil Waugh said in a statement: “Angus excelled as a rugby player through the schoolboy and junior ranks, and we believe he will make a strong contribution to the performance and culture of Australian rugby.”

The news of Crichton’s switch comes after former Roosters teammate Suaalii made a high-profile defection to rugby in 2024 and Tricolours teammate Mark Nawaqanitawase signing a deal to play rugby in Japan in 2027, also in a bid to play for the Wallabies at the World Cup.

The chances of Australian and NSW Origin teammate Lomax also signing with a Super Rugby club, following the postponement of the breakaway R360 competition, now appear very slim.

The Force and Brumbies both made offers to Lomax, but RA chose not to offer a substantial top-up payment. Lomax is now pushing to stay in the NRL at the Melbourne Storm.

Waugh and Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt have repeatedly stressed they are primarily interested in league converts who have played significant rugby experience and can therefore adapt quickly to the game. Suaalii, Carter Gordon and Crichton all fit that mould.

Where Crichton is best suited on a rugby field will be an interesting talking point.

The 102kg forward has made his name in rugby league as a powerhouse edge back-rower, with strong ball running and the ability to offload in contact. Those skills could translate nicely to inside centre in rugby, as seen with Sonny Bill Williams when he moved from league back-rower to union midfielder. Power runners in the No.12 who get across the advantage line are valued by rugby coaches.

The Wallabies’ centre pairing is Len Ikitau and Suaalii, but Crichton in the No.12 jersey could potentially open up the option of Ikitau – the John Eales medallist last year – moving back to his favoured No.13 jersey, and Suaalii being deployed at fullback or on the wing, where his aerial skills could come to the fore.

League forwards moving to inside centre in rugby is not always a smooth ride, however. Rabbitohs prop Sam Burgess switched to rugby to play in a home World Cup in 2015, but after playing back row for club team Bath, he was selected at inside centre for England.

Burgess played solidly but was ultimately made the scapegoat by English rugby after the hosts failed to make the quarter-finals.

The option of Crichton playing as a ball-running flanker or No.8 is also on the table, however. Some coaches deploy a back-rower out wider, as they do in rugby league. But Crichton would also have to relearn the technical skills and habits involved with lineouts, scrums and the ever-confusing breakdown.