Marika Koroibete: Australia open discussions to bring wing back into Wallabies fold

Marika Koroibete of the Wallabies on his way to score a try during the Round 4 Rugby Championship match between the Australia Wallabies and the South Africa Springboks at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Saturday, September 18, 2021. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY ** STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE, NO BOOKS **

Star wing Marika Koroibete is close to a return to the Australian squad, according to reports down under.

The Sydney Morning Herald are claiming that the 42-times capped back three player could be available for their series with England.

Koroibete currently plies his trade in Japan with Panasonic Wild Knights and hasn’t played for Australia since the clash with Argentina in the Rugby Championship in September 2021.

He therefore missed their tour to the northern hemisphere in October and November.

Three overseas players allowed

Under the Giteau Law, head coach Dave Rennie is allowed to pick three overseas-based individuals and he is keen to bring Koroibete back.

Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi, who transformed the Australian team when they returned last year, will be the first two picks and discussions are underway with Koroibete’s Japanese club to make sure the wing is the third.

According to the Herald, Cooper let Rennie know that he wants to be a part of the England series, while Kerevi has also stated his intention to feature for the Wallabies in July.

“I’ll definitely have my hand up for that, I think I just have to keep playing some good footy in Japan and if Dave Rennie wants to [request] selection through there then that would be really exciting,” the centre told Stan Sport.

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