Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs are pleased to confirm hooker Folau Fainga'a will return to home soil, signing a new agreement until the end of 2028.
The 30-year-old will return to his home state from France where he has been playing in the Top 14 with ASM Clermont Auvergne in France, and will be looking to add to his 38 caps of Wallabies experience.
Born and bred in New South Wales, Fainga'a was a Canterbury Junior before being selected for the Australia Under 20s in 2015 for the Junior World Championships in Italy.
He began his senior career in the Shute Shield at Sydney University, earning valuable experience with the Sydney Stars and NSW Country Eagles in the National Rugby Championship.
From there he joined the ACT Brumbies, under current NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar, making his Super Rugby debut in 2018 and was part of their Super Rugby AU winning side in 2020.
He became Wallaby number 923 after making his Test debut against New Zealand also in 2018 and was selected in Australia's squad for the Rugby World Cup in Japan the following year.
Fainga'a would become a regular the national set-up and moved to the Western Force for one year in 2023 before taking up an opportunity in France.
His new deal will see him return to Australia in time for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Wallaby number 923 and NSW Waratahs recruit, Folau Fainga'a said: "I couldn't be more excited to return to Australia, and particularly to my home city of Sydney with the NSW Waratahs.
"The Waratahs is somewhere I started my professional rugby journey in the Under-20s and to be coming back to work under Dan and play with some guys I know really well is something I'm massively looking forward to.
"To be closer to family is something I'm grateful for as well after being away from them for nearly 10 years now.
"I feel I have plenty to offer on and off the field and am looking forward to working hard and giving myself every opportunity to make a positive impact on Australian Rugby."
Rugby Australia's Director of High Performance, Peter Horne said: "Folau is an experienced player who knows what it takes to compete and prepare at the highest level.
"On a wider note, it's encouraging to see players currently overseas who are looking to return home and contribute to Rugby in Australia."
NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said: "We recruited Folau from 'Sydney Uni' in 2017 and saw a dynamic hooker with strong set piece. Back then we thought he was a player with the potential to grow and develop into a very good hooker and he has done that.
"He's had a good professional career in Super Rugby and at Test level and at the age of thirty he still has many years ahead of him.
"With the unexpected retirement of Dave Porecki, we needed to find someone of equal quality in a very short space of time, and we have done that. We are fortunate to have Folau on board."
"I like many of our playing group at the Waratahs know Folau very well. He has strong connections throughout the group. He's a good man, someone who really adds to any team environment. He's going to be a great addition to us, adding quality and experience both on and off the field."
Position: Hooker
Height: 178cm
Weight: 106kg
Born: 05/05/1995
Place of birth: Sydney, Australia
Test debut: 2018 v New Zealand, Auckland
Wallaby number: 923
Test caps: 38
Super Rugby debut: 2018 v Rebels, Melbourne (playing for the ACT Brumbies)
Super Rugby caps: 70 - 63 (ACT Brumbies); 7 (Western Force)
First Rugby Club: Canterbury Juniors
Wallabies 21 defeated Fiji 18 on Sunday July 6 at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Wallabies 19 defeated by the British & Irish Lions 27 on Saturday July 19 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Wallabies 26 defeated by the British & Irish Lions 29 on Saturday July 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Wallabies 22 defeated the British & Irish Lions 12 on Saturday August 2 at Accor Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies 38 defeated South Africa 22 on Saturday August 16 at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Wallabies 22 defeated by South Africa 30 on Saturday August 23 at DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Wallabies 28 defeated Argentina 24 on Saturday September 6 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Wallabies 26 defeated by Argentina 28 on Saturday September 13 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies v New Zealand at 3:05pm AEST on Saturday September 27, Eden Park, Auckland
Wallabies v New Zealand at 5:45pm AWST on Saturday October 4 at Optus Stadium, Perth
Wallabies v Japan at 4:50pm AEDT on Saturday October 25 at National Stadium, Tokyo
Wallabies v England, at 2:10am AEDT on Sunday November 2 at Allianz Stadium, London
Wallabies v Italy at 4:40am AEDT on Sunday November 9 at Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
Wallabies v Ireland at 7:10am AEDT on Sunday November 16 at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Wallabies v France at 7:10am on Sunday November 23 at Stade de France, Paris
