After a brief fling with the NFL, Jordan Petaia is lacing up his rugby boots again, but he's not coming home to Super Rugby. Instead, he’s taking his talents to the French Top 14, signing a nine-month stint with Perpignan. This twist comes hot on the heels of his release from the Los Angeles Chargers, leaving Rugby Australia scrambling to potentially weave him back into the Super Rugby tapestry. Yet, with team rosters for 2026 already set in stone, Petaia’s French detour might just be a clever play to rejoin the Wallabies in time for the 2027 World Cup.
Les Kiss, soon to be steering the Wallabies ship, has always been a Petaia enthusiast. Even after Petaia's jump to the NFL, Kiss had nothing but praise for his former Queensland star.
"Jordie has been a great Reds player. We only wish him the best with his ambitions in American football. We support him. He represented the Queensland jersey proudly as one of the most dynamic players in Australia, if not the world,”
Kiss reminisced.
Even former Wallaby, Justin Harrison, chimed in, highlighting the necessity of keeping the door open for Petaia. Speaking on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts, Harrison supported the notion of ongoing dialogue, asserting,
"It would be silly not to. He’s clearly an aspirational thinker of the game… For whatever reason, it hasn’t worked in NFL. Notwithstanding the fact that this seems to be one of the hardest competitions in the world to get a contract. So good on you for trying. Why not?”
Michael Cheika, who first gambled on Petaia’s prowess by playing him in the 2019 World Cup as a teenager, believes Petaia’s NFL dalliance will only bolster his rugby credentials. "He'll be more mature now and these would be the years where I think you could get a lot from a player like that," Cheika pointed out.
For now, the spotlight shifts to Perpignan, where Petaia’s rugby resurrection will unfold. But the broader narrative hinges on whether this French chapter is merely a prelude to a grander Wallabies comeback. Only time will tell if this strategic move pays off, potentially setting the stage for a spectacular return just in time for rugby’s greatest showdown in 2027.
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After a brief fling with the NFL, Jordan Petaia is lacing up his rugby boots again, but he's not coming home to Super Rugby. Instead, he’s taking his talents to the French Top 14, signing a nine-month stint with Perpignan. This twist comes hot on the heels of his release from the Los Angeles Chargers, leaving Rugby Australia scrambling to potentially weave him back into the Super Rugby tapestry. Yet, with team rosters for 2026 already set in stone, Petaia’s French detour might just be a clever play to rejoin the Wallabies in time for the 2027 World Cup.
Les Kiss, soon to be steering the Wallabies ship, has always been a Petaia enthusiast. Even after Petaia's jump to the NFL, Kiss had nothing but praise for his former Queensland star.
"Jordie has been a great Reds player. We only wish him the best with his ambitions in American football. We support him. He represented the Queensland jersey proudly as one of the most dynamic players in Australia, if not the world,”
Kiss reminisced.Even former Wallaby, Justin Harrison, chimed in, highlighting the necessity of keeping the door open for Petaia. Speaking on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts, Harrison supported the notion of ongoing dialogue, asserting,
"It would be silly not to. He’s clearly an aspirational thinker of the game… For whatever reason, it hasn’t worked in NFL. Notwithstanding the fact that this seems to be one of the hardest competitions in the world to get a contract. So good on you for trying. Why not?”
Michael Cheika, who first gambled on Petaia’s prowess by playing him in the 2019 World Cup as a teenager, believes Petaia’s NFL dalliance will only bolster his rugby credentials. "He'll be more mature now and these would be the years where I think you could get a lot from a player like that," Cheika pointed out.
For now, the spotlight shifts to Perpignan, where Petaia’s rugby resurrection will unfold. But the broader narrative hinges on whether this French chapter is merely a prelude to a grander Wallabies comeback. Only time will tell if this strategic move pays off, potentially setting the stage for a spectacular return just in time for rugby’s greatest showdown in 2027.