Queensland Reds and Wallabies lock Izack Rodda has re-signed with Australian rugby, keeping him in the country for the next four years.
Rodda, who has established himself as a prominent member of the Wallabies and a leader of the Reds at Super Rugby level, will stay in the Australian system until after the 2023 World Cup.
The 23-year-old lock, who only made his Super Rugby debut in 2017, already has 21 Tests to his name and started in every single match in 2018 for the Wallabies before playing a key role again this year.
Rodda was, of course, selected in the 31-man Australian squad for the Rugby World Cup, and is likely to be in Michael Cheika’s first-choice second-row pairing alongside Rory Arnold.
The New South Wales north coast junior has also captained the Reds this past Super Rugby season, having been handed the reins of the side when Samu Kerevi was rested for a match with the Chiefs, and is expected to take over the role full-time in 2020 following Kerevi’s departure for Japan.
Rodda said it was an easy choice to stay with the Reds.
“It all started for me in Queensland, so it was a no-brainer to stay there for another four years,” said Rodda.
“I’m excited to see what the future holds for this Reds team. We’ve all been together through that Queensland pathway. We’ve all come through together at U20s level and then progressed to NRC and then some made their Super Rugby debuts earlier than others, but we’re all now that same crew who went through with U20s.”
The news of Rodda’s re-signing is another shot in the arm for the Wallabies, who have also recently re-signed Michael Hooper, Alan Alaalatoa, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou and Jordan Petaia until after the 2023 World Cup.
The Wallabies 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign gets underway on Saturday when they take on Fiji.
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