Off-contract and in hot demand, Brumbies star Len Ikitau says he will always put up his hand to play for the Wallabies, even if he elects to head overseas at season’s end.
The 26-year-old is expected to make a call on his future in the coming weeks, with Rugby Australia at serious risk of losing one of their first-picked players.
With RA playing hardball and trying to slow wage inflation, it’s understood the governing body won’t be able to match the deals cashed-up overseas clubs are throwing at Ikitau, whose value skyrocketed after his incredible matchwinning offload against England at Twickenham last year.
Throw in the fact that Ikitau showed he could perform on the international stage at inside centre and the understated midfielder became a highly valuable commodity.
Len Ikitau offloads to set up the Wallabies’ famous win over England at Twickenham on November 09, 2024. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
The Roar understands Ikitau has several overseas options on the table, including a possible reunion with former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, who is in his second season leading Kobe in the Japanese League One competition.
But just who the classy centre signs with could come down to whether RA is prepared to play ball with his release date.
Unlike most of the current crop of Wallabies, including a handful of regulars who have sabbatical clauses in their contracts, sources have told The Roar Ikitau is only signed through until the end of The Rugby Championship.
The unique deal means clubs are lining up to sign Ikitau because he would be available to join them early in the season or for a pre-season in Japan, which is highly valued in the rapidly expanding market.
It could also dictate whether Ikitau, who has a young child, departs Super Rugby for one or two seasons, with RA keen to have the centre in Australia ahead of the home World Cup in 2027.
Ikitau’s agent David Shand would not return calls.
Len Ikitau says he’s desperate to play for the Wallabies even if he heads overseas. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
Speaking about his looming contract call, Ikitau said it was a “tough decision” given all the factors at play but added that he was focussed on making a strong start to the Super Rugby Pacific season with the Brumbies.
“That’s honestly a tough one because you have to factor in your family,” Ikitau said.
“That’s the main thing, making sure you’re able to provide and create a future for your family. That’s the most important thing for me, but I think it’s just being happy too and I’m happy here at the Brums.
“My manager’s in the background getting some things done, so I’ll just let him focus on that.
“For me, it’s about starting fast. I was kind of slow out the blocks to start [last] season, so I want to start fast and then hopefully everything takes care of itself over the next couple of weeks.”
RA has shown that no player is expendable over the past 12 months, with off-contract Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt putting a line through anyone who signs with an overseas club.
That might be all well and good for fringe Wallabies Tom Hooper and Langi Gleeson, but Ikitau is considered one of the Wallabies’ best and should he depart, it will test the mettle of RA’s policy on the eve of the Lions series.
Ikitau added that if he did head overseas it wouldn’t mean he doesn’t value the Wallabies jersey on the eve of two of the game’s showpiece events.
“It’s always awesome being able to put on the jersey,” the 39-Test centre said.
“If I was to go away, I’d always put my hand up to play for the jersey, but you can’t really control what happens.
“With all the overseas players, they can’t control what happens.
“But I’m proud to be a Wallaby, I want to continue to play for the Wallabies.”
Brumbies centre Len Ikitau celebrates after scoring against the Fijian Drua at GIO Stadium on May 04, 2024. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Although Ikitau stayed in Canberra over the Christmas period, the new parent only returned to training earlier this month in the nation’s capital.
Ikitau said five-week break came at the perfect time after carrying several niggles towards the end of his marvellous year, which saw the Wallabies regain the attention of the country after breaking a nine-year drought against England at Twickenham and putting a record score on Wales in Cardiff.
“The spring tour was the best tour that I’ve been on,” he said.
“The boys gelled together and just enjoyed playing the footy that we played in, obviously a slip-up in Scotland but overall, to sum up the tour, it was very enjoyable.”
Ikitau’s name in particular rose to stardom after pulling off one of the best passes in 2024, which sealed one of the Wallabies’ most famous victories.
But unlike Waratahs recruit Ben Grant who recently was called out for sleeping talking about his lineout calls, Ikitau hasn’t yet started dreaming about his flick pass that went viral on the same day Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s stardom rose.
“Oh my gosh, no, I don’t,” he quipped. “But it was funny because when it happened [hooker] Matt Faessler called me Len Flickitau and the next day I posted something up, and Tate [McDermott] commented Len Flickitau and it went off then and Tate took the credit and went along with it.
“That was an awesome win, and a win that I won’t forget.”
Australia’s Len Ikitau celebrates with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii after delivering the match-winning pass against England at Twickenham on November 9, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images)
As for his blossoming partnership with Suaalii, Ikitau said the NRL recruit, who was lured over on a multi-million dollar deal, had brought some “X-factor” to the group.
“The way he jumps for the ball, the way he carries, even the way he kind of defended in that 13-channel run, knowing how hard it is to defend in that space, and just see the way that he transitioned so well, I was clapping my hands when I saw him defend that channel against England,” Ikitau said.
“He adds a lot of energy.
“Everyone said that he works hard and he’s always the first one on the field and the last one off, and that’s actually true. He wants to work hard and he wants to make sure that he’s focused on everything throughout the week to ensure that he’s prepared for the game, so I really enjoyed playing with him, but we’ll see how we go when we have to tackle him.”
How much Ikitau features in the No.12 jersey for the Brumbies remains to be seen, with coach Stephen Larkham having Rebels recruit David Feliaui also up his sleeve to fill the void left by Tamati Tua.
“I think I’ll just play wherever Bernie (Larkham) wants me to,” Ikitau said. “I feel like I’m comfortable in both positions, so wherever I’m needed, I’ll do what’s best.”
