Wallabies prop Angus Bell is set to miss the Waratahs’ 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season by taking up a sabbatical abroad.
The loosehead is currently tied to Rugby Australia until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, but built into that deal is a clause which allows him to seek a short-term contract overseas.
It is akin to the agreement many All Blacks have with New Zealand Rugby as RA also look to find innovative ways of keeping their best talent in the country.
Set for Ireland move
Bell has duly decided to take advantage of that opportunity and it has been reported by The Roar that the 24-year-old has agreed to sign for Irish side Ulster.
The Belfast-based outfit have struggled this season but they have already shown their intent ahead of the 2025/26 campaign by bringing in Springboks hopeful Juarno Augustus from Northampton Saints.
The Wallabies prop would be another statement addition as the Ulstermen seek to bolster a front-row which was weakened when ex-Springboks star Steven Kitshoff left in 2024.
It is a blow for the Waratahs, however, who will be without the powerhouse loosehead for next year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Despite that setback, the Sydney outfit did receive some good news on Wednesday with Pete Samu returning to Australia after signing a two-year deal.
Samu has been a standout for Bordeaux-Begles since moving to France in 2023 and, injury-dependent, will start in the Investec Champions Cup final this weekend.
“My family and I are really happy to be coming home. We’ve enjoyed our time in France but it’s the right time for us to return to Australia,” the back-rower said.
“It feels like a full circle moment to come back to Sydney, a place I started my journey to playing professional Rugby and I’m looking forward to linking back up with [head coach] Dan [McKellar] and the Waratahs who I’m confident are heading in a positive direction.
“I’m also highly motivated by the upcoming events in Australian Rugby and will certainly be working hard to give myself the best chance to be part of them and earn another opportunity in the gold jersey.”
Reversing the trend
There have been concerns over the number of talented Wallabies players jumping ship, with Langi Gleeson and Noah Lolesio two individuals who have decided to commit their futures elsewhere.
However, the governing body have done a good job recently of keeping most of their stars in Australia, or in Samu’s case, bringing them home.
“I worked with Pete for a long time, brought him back to Australia from the Crusaders [to Canberra with the Canberra Vikings in 2018-2019 and ACT Brumbies from 2019-2023],” Dan McKellar said.
“He’s a player who brings a real point of difference. He’s an athletic back-rower with genuine skill. He can open up a game, and has versatility to cover eight, seven or six.
“He has played the game at Test level and obviously had a very good season with Bordeaux in France.
“He’s going to be a great addition to our group. He is a quiet man, quietly spoken, but talks through his actions. I look forward to working with Pete again.”
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/wallabies-star-copies-all-blacks-trend-by-making-irish-switch-with-springboks-hopeful-as-pete-samu-returns-to-australia
