Following in the footsteps of South Africa, the Wallabies will now have the freedom to pick overseas-based talent, ensuring the best players represent Australia as they build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
This comes after Rugby Australia has made a significant policy change, ending the Giteau Law and adopting a more flexible approach to player selection.
RUGBY AUSTRALIA FINALLY DOES AWAY WITH ‘GITEAU LAW’
Rugby Australia has confirmed a major shift in national selection policy, announcing that Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and coach-in-waiting Les Kiss are free to select as many overseas-based players as they see fit. The move mirrors the approach taken by South Africa, who previously scrapped a similar policy in favour of open selection.
Introduced in 2015, the Giteau Law limited Wallabies eligibility to overseas players with 60 or more Test caps and seven years of Super Rugby service. It was originally designed to retain top talent within Australia, but its relevance has waned in recent years. Now, Rugby Australia has declared the rule redundant.
BIG BOSSES EXPLAIN BIG DECISION
RA CEO Phil Waugh and High Performance boss Peter Horne made the announcement following the successful British & Irish Lions series, signalling a more flexible approach to Wallaby selections heading into the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
“We’re pretty open,” Horne said. “Joe’s got no impediment to select whoever he wants. The Giteau Law is kind of redundant now.”
He emphasised, however, that domestic-based players will still be prioritised when they are of equal quality. “It’s important we invest in our premier competition in Australia,” Horne added. “But this gives us the freedom to pick difference-makers when needed.”
HOW THIS POLICY CHANGE WILL BENEFIT WALLABIES
The change paves the way for Europe-bound stars like Will Skelton, Taniela Tupou, Langi Gleeson, and Tom Hooper to continue representing Australia. Japan-based players such as Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, and Bernard Foley also remain firmly in the selection frame.
Both Skelton and Tupou earned high praise for their performances in the 22–12 third Test win over the Lions in Sydney. Their off-field leadership and positive cultural impact were highlighted as key factors in maintaining squad cohesion.
Waugh noted the importance of keeping top players in Australia but acknowledged that flexibility was essential.
“Cohesion is critically important, but if there’s a material difference between what we have locally and what’s offshore, we’ll make the call,” he said.
A squad update is expected later this week, with all players undergoing medical screening and review.
The Wallabies now appear to be following the Springboks’ successful model, blending domestic development with global experience in pursuit of World Cup glory on home soil in 2027.
WILL THE WALLABIES BE COMPETITIVE IN THE UPCOMING RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP?
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