Noah Lolesio Explains Why He Chose to Leave Wallabies for Japan

Noah Lolesio reveals Joe Schmidt's departure as Wallabies coach influenced his decision to leave Australian rugby and play in Japan.

Noah Lolesio, the talented flyhalf, has revealed that Joe Schmidt's imminent departure as Wallabies head coach played a significant role in his decision to leave Australian rugby and play in Japan. Lolesio confirmed last week that he would be leaving the ACT Brumbies at the end of the Super Rugby Pacific season to take up a contract overseas, effectively ending his chances of playing for the Wallabies again under Schmidt. The 25-year-old has played 29 tests and was Schmidt's preferred flyhalf in his first season in charge.

Lolesio admitted that he had “tossed and turned” over his decision but ultimately felt it was the right one for him. He cited Schmidt's planned exit after the Rugby Championship as a key factor in his choice, saying, “Joe not being here after the Rugby Championship definitely made it tougher for me to stay, to be honest.” With Schmidt's strict preference for home-based players, Lolesio's future in Australian rugby looked uncertain, and the opportunity to play in Japan became an attractive option.

If Joe Schmidt had stayed on as @wallabies coach, so may have Noah Lolesio...

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Local media reports revealed that Lolesio and Rugby Australia had been unable to agree on a contract extension due to pay issues. This development came as Lolesio announced his decision to leave Australian rugby and play in Japan. The 25-year-old has played under three Wallabies coaches since his test debut against New Zealand in 2020 and experienced a tumultuous period under Eddie Jones, which included being omitted from the 2023 World Cup squad.

Lolesio expressed his gratitude for Schmidt's support but admitted that he didn't look forward to proving himself to another coach. “I totally respect Joe's decision to leave but as I've experienced so far with previous coaches it didn't end well for me,” he said. Lolesio's concerns about adapting to new coaches were compounded by Schmidt's planned departure, which made him question his future with the Wallabies. He noted that Schmidt was “pretty disappointed” when informed of his decision but hoped that the coach would still consider him for the Lions series starting July 19 in Brisbane.

Lolesio's exit further depletes Australia's playmaker stocks, following Carter Gordon's switch to rugby league after the Melbourne Rebels' collapse. Lolesio acknowledged that Schmidt's preference for home-based players was understandable, saying, “He's obviously going to favour in the future boys that want to stay in Australia which is, again, fair enough.” However, he also noted that Schmidt had left the door open for his potential selection, stating, “But he also said that the window's not fully closed.”

“Joe not being here after the Rugby Championship definitely made it tougher for me to stay, to be honest,” Lolesio told reporters in Canberra.

“That was probably one of the main reasons why I decided to head overseas.

“It's a tough one because I definitely wanted to stay, ideally - but, again, it's just the unknown of what the future holds.

“It's a stressful time, not just for myself but for boys off contract at the moment still.”