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At long last, the Waratahs look to have landed a giant. Miles Amatosero – the 203cm, 125kg 20-year-old – is set to return home from France to sign a multi-year deal with the Waratahs and Rugby Australia.
After letting Emmanuel Meafou slip through their fingers – another giant, who will join France for their final Six Nations match before becoming eligible for Les Bleus in late December – Australian rugby can celebrate getting one back.
It’s understood new Wallabies coach Eddie Jones was influential in encouraging the second-rower home, with cashed-up French clubs, including Clermont, eager to lock the exciting emerging star up. He will be eligible to play for the Wallabies as soon as his pen hits the dotted line.
As well as checking out the Wallabies’ World Cup facilities over the past week, Jones has spent time speaking with Australian eligible players in France.
The Waverley College product is on the cusp of signing with the Waratahs, having spent the past three seasons with Clermont in the French Top 14.
Clermont second-rower Miles Amatosero is set to return to Australian rugby to join the Waratahs. Photo: Twitter
The second-rower signed with Clermont as a teenager and made his Top 14 debut as an 18-year-old in 2020.
Amatosero has featured in 13 matches this season for Clermont, starting in almost half of thoseand appeared in the Champions Cup.
His departure is the second blow for Clermont, with the French side failing to lure Wallaby Jed Holloway to the club.
Amatosero’s expected signing is a huge coup for the Waratahs, who have bled locks since Michael Cheika’s departure in 2015.
Miles Amatosero in the loose against Brive. Photo: Twitter
When Cheika’s Waratahs won the Super Rugby title in 2014, they had Kane Douglas and Jacques Potgieter in the second-row with Will Skelton coming off the bench. The Waratahs haven’t recovered since their departures.
In stark contrast, the Brumbies currently have three Test locks and the extra meat on the bones has seen them regularly challenge New Zealand opposition and, subsequently, the Super Rugby competition. Previously, they had Rory Arnold and Sam Carter up until the 2019 World Cup.
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman has been eyeing off a lock since being unveiled as head coach in 2021, noting that the second-row was one of three key positions they needed to bolster.
While they missed out on luring home Douglas from France, they have been making do with a number of hybrid forwards, including Test forwards Ned Hanigan and Jed Holloway and Hugh Sinclair playing in the second-row.
Former Chiefs second-rower Taleni Seu has also bolstered the Waratahs’ second-row ranks this year.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.