Why rugby union can’t get enough of league imports

By Ben Sheard

Recent developments in the so called silly season of transfer rumours, stories and embargos have shown a huge link in rugby league players coming over to the 15-a-side game. So why are they coming over?

First of all, look at the players who have come over. Australian rugby union has announced the signings of Sydney Roosters duo Mark Nawanqanitawase and Angus Crichton for the 2027 season.

This is so the pair can play for the Wallabies in their home World Cup, but only after they’ve played in the rugby league World Cup at the end of this year.

Nawanqanitawase, or more commonly known as Marky Mark, has represented the Wallabies on 11 occasions, including appearances at the Rugby World Cup in 2023, scoring six tries in the process.

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Import

He then went and joined the NRL outfit in 2024 and has made a name for himself as a lethal try scorer with a record very few could even dream of, with 25 tries in 24 games, scoring some of the most outrageous finishes seen to man.

The winger’s try-scoring prowess got rewarded at the end of the season with a call-up for the Kangaroos and he played in all three of the Ashes fixtures in the Autumn of last year.

Angus Crichton follows his compatriot in his dream to play in the home World Cup.

The New South Wales and Kangaroo star has dominated the second row channel for the past decade, and like Marky Mark, he played in all three of the recent Ashes tests, scoring twice in the Wembley opener.

Albeit Crichton did play in the Wallabies age grade set-up, but crossed codes in back in 2016, playing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, then in 2018 crossed the city and applied his trade at the Roosters.

World Cup cycle

Australia Rugby are definitely hoping that both are as successful as fellow import and former Roosters starlet Joseph Aukuso Sua’ali’i.

Sua’ali’i represented Samoa in the 13-a-side game but came over to union in 2024 and played as if he had been playing all his life.

The 22-year-old has since represented the gold and green 14 times, scoring four tries in the process.

Rugby league imports have historically been talking points at this period in the World Cup cycle, whether that’s representing England, Australia, New Zealand or the Pacific Island nations.

Two of the pioneers in coming over from rugby and representing in a World Cup are the try scorers from the 2003 Rugby World Cup final between Australia and England, Lote Tuqiri and Jason Robinson.

Both are dual-code internationals. Since then, the most notable import from rugby league has been Sam Burgess for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, representing England.

Who is next?

Well, for Australia, rumours have been circulating around Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary.

Additionally, if the Wallabies were to further exploit rugby league, then I would sniff around Melbourne Storm’s Harry Grant and Cameron Munster, as well as Brisbane Broncos duo Pat Carrigan and Reece Walsh.

From an English perspective, if the RFU could convince Herbie Farnworth from the Dolphins to wear the rose on his chest, that would be incredible.

A player who makes everything look effortless and knows how to both carry and tackle harder than most.

Additionally, his new team-mate in Morgan Knowles. The loose forward is a player who can do almost everything.

A big body who offers a delicate touch. If he were to come over to union, he would probably play either in the back row or be a ball-carrying centre.

READ MORE: George Furbank returns to England squad for Guinness Six Nations