RA CEO Phil Waugh has lauded the signing of NRL star Angus Crichton, believing he can make an impact as soon as this year's Spring Tour.
Crichton inked a two-year deal to join the NSW Waratahs ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
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It could see the NSW and Australian international follow in the footsteps of former teammate Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and join the Wallabies on the Spring Tour as part of the Nations Championship.
“I don't want to speak for the selectors and the coaches but I think there's a sensible transition," Waugh told reporters.
“You want to hit the markers that we want to hit and our aspirations at the Rugby World Cup, the longer the team’s together and we're building cohesion and combinations then the better prepared we're going to be.
“I think naturally you'd look at you know when the NRL season finishes and then ensuring that he's fit and ready to go when the opportunity comes.”
Waugh is familiar with the impact cross-code athletes can have on a home World Cup.
He believes the targeted approach Rugby Australia has taken in recruiting athletes back to Rugby Union will deliver results.
“I think that we've been really disciplined around our recruitment and look at Joseph, Mark and Angus coming back into rugby as players that have a history in rugby," Waugh said.
“We know the nuances of rugby take time to acquire, and so it's really important to have that history and I think that you need big athletes and I think Angus is certainly a strong athlete who can match up with anyone in the world and brings a different edge to the environment, which we're looking forward to seeing.
"...If you look at where teams have performed well around the world it's having world-class athletes and giving Angus his background within rugby and then what he's achieved in Rugby League to have Angus coming back into the environment and the opportunity that presents for Australian Rugby it's very exciting for us and we're thrilled to have him commit to us for 2027-28.
“I've seen comments from my era when I was playing around the impact of having Wendell [Sailor], Lote [Tuqiri], Matt Rogers come into that environment, the competition for selection and ultimately just lifting the professionalism of the environment."
