Mark Nawaqanitawase has left Australian rugby in a state of uncertainty, openly admitting he has not decided whether he will represent the Wallabies, Italy or Fiji at the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil, with the cross-code star saying the experience of winning is what will ultimately drive his choice.
The 26-year-old winger, who helped the Sydney Roosters claim the NRL premiership before heading to Japan to join Wild Knights, turned down an invitation to rejoin the Wallabies for next month's Nations Championship. That decision has triggered a countdown: by next August, having served the mandatory three-year international stand-down period, Nawaqanitawase will become eligible to represent both Italy and Fiji, giving him a genuine choice of three nations ahead of the tournament.
Nawaqanitawase opens up on what will drive his decision
Speaking on a rugby podcast, Nawaqanitawase said the Wallabies held a special place for him but that making any commitment right now was not straightforward.
"I still have more to prove. I don't know where that's going to be, but wherever I go, I feel like I have a lot to give the team," he said. "Whoever it's for, I want to go and win it. I don't know who it will be for, but time will tell."
He described playing for Australia as a "massive honour" and said he "loved every moment of it", but was equally clear that the decision carried enormous personal weight. "I want to make sure wherever I go, I'm happy, and the people around me, my family, are happy too," he said. "These decisions will have a massive impact on how your life goes."
Nawaqanitawase also pushed back firmly on suggestions that money was the motivating factor, noting he had already signed a deal with the Wild Knights estimated at around $3 million over two years. Instead, he pointed to the culture and winning environment he experienced at the Roosters as the real benchmark he is measuring everything else against.
"It's not about the money," he said. "I get paid by my club and then if you play internationally, you might get a match fee, but it's insignificant. That's the biggest thing that's made me open to everything: I've come from an experience at the Roosters where the set-up from top to bottom, just the way they've made me feel, and the experience I had winning, I definitely do have to think about where I'm going to get that feeling again."
Wallabies camp insists the door remains open
The response from within the Australian rugby establishment has been mixed. Wallabies coach Les Kiss sought to downplay any alarm, describing his conversations with Nawaqanitawase as "positive". Wallabies captain Harry Wilson was similarly relaxed, pointing to the fact that he had played alongside Nawaqanitawase since junior level and had recently seen him cheering on the Kangaroos.
"I don't think I have to convince him," Wilson said. "I think it's pretty obvious who he wants to play for."
However, Wallabies great Matt Giteau struck a harder line, saying Rugby Australia should not need to beg a player to wear the gold jersey. "I want the people that want to play for the Wallabies to play for the Wallabies," Giteau said. "If you don't, then go somewhere else."
Cultural ties to Fiji and Italy add a personal dimension
Beyond rugby politics, Nawaqanitawase revealed a deeply personal connection to two of his alternative nations. His biological father, Sevuloni, is Fijian, while his mother, Fiona Tovehi, is of Italian heritage and is fluent in Italian. He said Australians would be "shocked at how in time I am with both cultures", describing a childhood steeped in Fijian family life.
With the World Cup less than 12 months away, the 190cm winger's next move will be one of the most closely watched decisions in Australian sport. For now, he is keeping all options open and letting performance, culture and the pursuit of winning guide the way.
