Mark Nawaqanitawase

Mark Nawaqanitawase (Fijian: [nawaŋanitaˈwaze] na-wong-ah-nee-taw-WAW-zay; born 11 September 2000) is an Australian professional rugby league player who plays as a centre or winger for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Mark Nawaqanitawase

Full name	Mark Ermanno Dukutoko Nawaqanitawase
Date of birth	(2000-09-11) 11 September 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	100 kg (220 lb; 15 st 10 lb)
School	St. Patrick's College
Rugby union career
Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2018 Eastwood 17 (45) 2019 NSW Country Eagles 6 (20) 2020–24 Waratahs 58 (115) Correct as of 31 May 2024 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2019 Australia U20 7 (20) 2022 Australia A 5 (10) 2022–23 Australia 11 (30) Correct as of 10 September 2023 National sevens team Years Team Comps 2022–24 Australia 2 Correct as of 18 May 2023
Rugby league career
Playing information
Position	Wing, Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2024– Sydney Roosters 20 17 0 0 68

He previously played rugby union as a wing for the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super Rugby and for Australia at international level.^[1]

Early life

Nawaqanitawase is of Fijian and Italian heritage.^[2][3] Nawaqanitawase played rugby league for Concord-Burwood Wolves and Leichhardt Wanderers in his youth,^[4] until he swapped over to rugby union aged 14.^[2]

Rugby union career

Domestic rugby

Nawaqanitawase played schoolboy rugby for St Patrick's College, Strathfield. As an adult, he began his first-class career with Eastwood RFC in the Shute Shield competition. As of 2022, he has been capped 5 times and has scored one try.^{[citation needed]}

With his similarities in height, position, body type, and playing style, Nawaqanitawase has been likened to former Waratahs fullback and dual Australia and Tonga representative Israel Folau.^[5][6]

NSW Country

2018 – 19

Nawaqanitawase began his professional career in 2018, signing with the NSW Country Eagles in the National Rugby Championship. He scored his first professional try in a 24–24 draw against the Fijian Drua on 14 September 2019.^[7] He scored another three tries in a year which saw the Eagles win the Horan-Little Shield for the first time since 2016.

Following the 2019 season, the NRC competition was disbanded including franchises.

NSW Waratahs

2020 – 22

Nawaqanitawase signed to the Waratahs squad for the 2020 season.^[8][9] He made his Super Rugby debut against the Crusaders on 1 February 2020, scoring two tries in a 42–23 loss. He scored another try the following week against the Blues. Nawaqanitawase finished his debut season having played 9 matches and scoring 4 tries.

In 2021, despite a disappointing year for the club, Nawaqanitawase extended his contract with the Waratahs until the end of the 2023 season.

Nawaqanitawase had a breakout 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season, starting in 10 of his 12 matches, scoring seven tries and playing a total of 842' in a year which saw the Waratahs finish 6th on the ladder and reach the Quarter-finals.

International rugby

Australia U20

Nawaqanitawase was a part of the U20 side that won their first title of the 2019 Oceania Rugby U20 Championship. Nawaqanitawase played twice and scored twice, with both tries being scored against Japan U20.

In the 2019 World Rugby U20 Championship, Nawaqanitawase played all five of the Junior Wallabies' matches, including the final against France in which he scored the second-fastest try in a World Rugby U20 Championship final. Unfortunately, the Junior Wallabies lost by one point: 23–24.^[10][11]

Australia A

In 2022, following an incredibly successful year with the Waratahs, Nawaqanitawase was named in the Australia A squad for the Pacific Nations Cup. Australia A finished runner–up in the tournament. Nawaqanitawase was again named in the Australia A squad for the three-match series against Japan. He played in two matches and scored two tries in the series win.

Australia

In 2022, following a successful campaign with both Australia A and the Waratahs, Nawaqanitawase was named in the Australian squad for the 2022 Autumn internationals series.

On 13 November 2022, Nawaqanitawase was named in the number 14 jersey in his debut match against Italy which the Wallabies lost 28 to 27.

On 27 November 2022, Nawaqanitawase scored two tries against Wales helping leading the Wallabies to a 39 to 34 win.

Nawaqanitawase represented Australia in the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Rugby Sevens

Nawaqanitawase was named in the Australian sevens team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.^[12][13]

Rugby league career

Sydney Roosters

On 7 December 2023, it was announced that he would join the Sydney Roosters in the NRL for the 2025 season, with Roosters' winger Joseph Suaalii going in the opposite direction to rugby union after the 2024 season.^[14] On 24 August 2024, Nawaqanitawase scored a try on debut for the Roosters.^[15]

2025

During round eleven, Nawaqanitawase scored two tries during the Sydney Roosters loss to Canterbury, his second try in the 67th minute was labelled the 'try of the decade' as he was going into touch but he kicked the ball with one foot before he went over the sideline and regathering it to score.^[16] In round 16, Nawaqanitawase scored two tries for the Sydney Roosters in their 42-8 victory over North Queensland.^[17] In round 23, he scored a hat-trick in the Sydney Roosters 64-12 victory over the Dolphins.^[18]