Australian Schools stars Heinz Lemoto is the subject of cross-code lobbying.Credit: Getty Images for Rugby Australia
Lemoto’s family has a strong rugby background and sources with knowledge of the negotiations, who requested anonymity to speak freely, said Rugby Australia have made a strong push to sign the teenager, along the same lines of the successful capture of then-schoolboy Max Jorgensen in 2022. Jorgensen signed a full contract and joined the Waratahs’ main squad as an 18-year-old.
Lemoto has had multiple meetings at RA, and at Waratahs headquarters with coaches and management. He has also met Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt.
But what appeared to be a choice between the codes on home soil has shifted for Lemoto, with at least two major clubs in France’s Top 14 having also made offers for the western Sydney youngster to move to Europe.
Lemoto is seriously considering the option of playing in France, according to an informed source who requested anonymity to speak freely.
Lemoto was recently taken on by Entourage Management, who have a large number of Australian clients playing overseas, particularly in France. That group includes the Sydney-raised Manny Meafou, who now plays for the French national team after becoming eligible via residency.
Whether Lemoto, who has Tongan heritage, is considering a similar path via a long-term stay is not known but it would be a blow for Australian rugby to lose a player of Lemoto’s talent. World Rugby residency rules stipulate a player must be registered with a union for 60 months (five years) before becoming eligible to play for the national team.
Speaking after Makisini signed with the Tigers, Rugby Australia high-performance boss Peter Horne said RA were making good ground with the talented teenagers who played both codes.
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“Of the Australia under-18 squad that toured and defeated NZ Schools last weekend, 23 out of 26 players have committed to rugby for 2025,” Horne said last year.
“It’s normal to have some players with a choice between codes and, while rugby may not be successful in all cases, the game is united and committed in engaging with these players and their families to present the game’s best offering and inform them of what they can expect from rugby.
“We’re actually pretty active in terms of securing and retaining those players.”
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