Gordon Set to Recommit to Australian Rugby After Failed Overseas Bid

Jake Gordon commits to Australian rugby after failed move to Perpignan, praising Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt's impact on his development.

Australian scrum-half Jake Gordon is set to re-commit to domestic rugby after a planned overseas move was blocked by Rugby Australia. The New South Wales Waratahs captain had sought an early release from his contract to join French side Perpignan last year but was refused.

Gordon stated that his priorities have shifted, and he's now focusing on his commitments with the Wallabies and Waratahs. “A little bit's changed from probably last time I was looking to going offshore,” Gordon told reporters in Sydney, indicating a renewed commitment to Australian rugby.

Jake Gordon praised Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, saying he enjoyed his time under Schmidt's guidance. “I really enjoyed my time with the Wallabies last year and really enjoyed my time with Joe (Schmidt). He was really good for my development at test level,” Gordon said.

Gordon credited Schmidt for reviving his test career after being snubbed by former coach Eddie Jones. He appreciated Schmidt's coaching style, saying, “I enjoyed how he kept things simple for me and offered direct feedback.” Schmidt will continue as coach until mid-2026, when Les Kiss is set to take over.

Wallabies scrumhalf Jake Gordon is ready to re-commit to Australian rugby after a planned move overseas was blocked by the sport’s national federation. https://t.co/uZJqdKaZrE pic.twitter.com/Zx1v9yIkia

— SABC News (@SABCNews) May 2, 2025

“He’s someone who’s seen a lot over time and his credentials speak for himself,” said the 31-year-old.

“When you get in those environments you just want to soak up all the knowledge you can get and he was a guy that I thought had a really good balance between telling you what he expects from you as a player and he’s a good bloke off the field too.”

Jake Gordon will make his first appearance for the Waratahs in two months when they face the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday. The Waratahs need a win to stay in contention for the top six in the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs. However, they've struggled away from home this season, losing their last seven matches against the Brumbies in Canberra and failing to win on the road.

“We probably haven't performed the way we wanted to away from home,” Gordon said. “We played some really good footy at home, but yeah, we are searching for a really good result this weekend,” he added, highlighting the team's quest for a strong performance in Canberra.