Rugby Australia might have lost one half of their halves combination overseas, but Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon isn’t going anywhere.
After months of weighing up his future, The Roar can reveal that Joe Schmidt’s first-choice halfback has put pen to paper and will stay at the Waratahs through to the home World Cup.
The 31-year-old had interest across the globe, including England, France and Japan, but has instead accepted a big-money deal to stay put in the lead up to the home World Cup.
Jake Gordon has re-signed with the NSW Waratahs through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
The decision will be a relief for Rugby Australia, who earlier this month lost Gordon’s halves partner Noah Lolesio to Japanese rugby.
Lolesio, who like Gordon has been in and out of the Wallabies under several coaches, said his decision to accept a deal overseas was partly because Schmidt’s successor had yet to be confirmed.
Gordon, too, had been reluctant to sign on without knowing who would oversee the Wallabies’ charge to the World Cup, but ultimately agreed to terms to stay put.
What Gordon’s retention means for Teddy Wilson’s future at the Waratahs remains to be seen, with the Western Force still interested in luring another Super Rugby player away from Daceyville to Perth. The former Junior Wallabies captain has been a standout for the Waratahs with Gordon sidelined because of a knee injury.
Nonetheless, the Waratahs will hope Gordon’s retention gives them an added boost ahead of Saturday night’s showdown with the Brumbies in Canberra, especially with the halfback expected to return after making his comeback last weekend for Sydney University.
Jake Gordon in action against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
The Waratahs desperately need to return to the winners’ circle, having slipped out of the top six over the weekend after the Hurricanes upset the Brumbies.
With three difficult local derbies and two fixtures against New Zealand opposition, including a home match against the Crusaders and a trip to Eden Park against the Blues to round out the regular season, it makes Saturday’s fixture all the more important.
