Aussies Abroad: Leota inspires shock upset on Top 14 debut as Australians battle across the world

Mon, Oct 6, 2025, 11:00 PM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Former NSW Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels flanker Rob Leota has made a successful debut for Bayonne in the Top 14. Photo: Getty Images
Former NSW Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels flanker Rob Leota has made a successful debut for Bayonne in the Top 14. Photo: Getty Images

While the domestic season is wrapped up in Australia, there are plenty of Australians in action across the world.

Former Wallabies were making their club debut while a host went head-to-head in France and in the URC.

Watch every match of the Wallabies' end-of-year tour live and on demand via Stan Sport.

Rugby.com.au presents the best of the Australians overseas in 'Aussies Abroad':

Former NSW Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels flanker Rob Leota has made a successful debut for Bayonne in the Top 14 as they surprised powerhouse Toulouse.

Leota led the club for carries (12) and didn’t miss a tackle as they took down the defending champions 40-26.

There were plenty of Aussies going head-to-head in the French top league, with Alex Newsome and Irae Simone contributing to Clermont’s big 81-34 win over Joe Powell’s Montauban.

Newsome crossed in the first half during the rout that saw every starting backline member cross for a try, with Simone’s line break late in the game leading to a try.

In Montpellier, Tom Banks and Jordan Uelese got the last laugh for Montpellier despite an early Suliasi Vunivalu try for La Rochelle.

The ex-Red and Wallaby crossed in the early minutes and had two line breaks and six tackle busts.

However, Banks and Uelese have Montpellier rolling early in the season, with the 37-13 win marking three straight unbeaten games.

Further results saw Tom Staniforth produce a monster 21 carries in Castres’ gutsy 20-16 win over Racing 92.

In England, Angus Scott-Young put in a big defensive performance in Northampton’s thrilling 37-35 win over Gloucester.

Scott-Young recorded 13 tackles and led the team for dominant tackles as they scraped out a win in the last ten minutes.

Fellow Australian Hugh Bokenham came off the bench in the defeat, putting together a productive 26-minute stint that included six carries and eight tackles.

Heading to the URC, it was Reds’ scrumhalf Louis Werchon that tasted success against Sam Talakai and Glasgow.

Werchon reverted to the bench for Benetton and made an impact with a 67th-minute line break, setting them in position for one of two late penalties to claim the 16-14 win.

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