Six weeks after losing Australia under-16s rising talent Visesio Kite to La Rochelle, Rugby Australia has slammed French clubs for “poaching” its young talent and called on World Rugby to step in and do something about.

As the governing body revealed the full extent of its $36.8 million deficit at its Annual General Meeting, RA chairman Daniel Herbert turned the focus on his counterparts in the north and said the practise of cashed-up clubs luring teenagers abroad needed to stop.

Herbert’s comments came after Kite, who played for Australia’s under-16s side after a breakout season for Queensland last year, was snapped up by La Rochelle earlier this year.

What followed was a messy few days, where Kite’s father, James, accused RA of blocking the 204cm, 147kg’s move to join the French club.

Visesio Kite, pictured with his father James, signed with La Rochelle earlier this year. Photo: James Kite

While RA eventually signed the necessary paperwork, the governing body insisted they were merely investigating the ethical nature of the move given the teenager’s youth and asked World Rugby to investigate it under regulation four:

 “An essential component of the protocol is the prohibition on the unauthorised approach to and/or ‘poaching’ of young players either within a union and/or between unions.”

On Wednesday, Herbert had his say and called on the practice to stop.

“There’s more than what’s been reported as well that we’re aware of,” Herbet said.

“It’s something that we’re talking to World Rugby about.

“Our view is that France has the ability to produce its own players. They don’t need to come and talk to our player agents to try and poach ours at a very young age.

“There’s going to be some discussions at World Rugby level around what is actually allowed to happen in that market.

“There has to be a coming together on what is allowed and what isn’t allowed. It’s the French clubs, it’s not the French federation. They’re working directly with player agents here.

“We don’t do it. Most other countries don’t do it. It’s something we’ll take up with World Rugby.”

While Herbert didn’t name who he was referring to, The Roar also understands Kite’s Australian under-16s teammate Adrian De Klerk signed with Montpellier last month.

Another teenager, Declan Meredith, is believed to have signed with Bayonne.

Dan Herbert has called on World Rugby to do something about French rugby clubs poaching its young talent. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Outstanding Australian Schoolboys back-rower Heinz Lemoto, 17, is also weighing up a move to France, with European champions Toulouse believed to be one club hunting the teenager’s signature.

Part of the attraction for French clubs to sign teenagers is that they are eligible to become JIFF-qualified, meaning they can play for France via a five-year academy placement.

While the Pacific Islands were once the target for cashed up clubs in Europe to go after, increasingly France and Japan are targeting players in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

It’s something World Rugby is acutely aware of, and the governing body hopes to address it in the coming months. But they face a tough task convincing everyone, including the French Football Federation.

Nor could RA claim any remuneration for Kite, with World Rugby regulation nine dedicating that development fees must be paid for players between the ages of 17 and 23.

Herbert’s comments came amid a wider discussion on the sustainability of the game.

RA announced a jaw-dropping $36.8m deficit at their AGM on Wednesday despite increasing their overall revenue to $126.3m.

The huge figure, which dwarfed the $9.2m deficit from 2023, came after taking on the outstanding debt of the Waratahs and Brumbies ($10.3m) amid acquiring their high performance and commercial assets.

RA also spent $5.1m on paying the one-off costs associated with the voluntary administration of the Melbourne Rebels.

The governing body also spent $9.4m on servicing its debt facility.

A further $2.5m was injected into the women’s game, too.

Another two teenagers have signed deals in French rugby, while Australian Schoolboys Heinz Lemoto is also being hunted by cashed-up clubs in Europe. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)

RA chief executive Phil Waugh attributed their decrease in sponsorship as a result of the poor performance at the 2023 World Cup.

Despite the ugly year, Waugh forecast a record $50 million surplus next year.

“The deficit was forecast, and in fact, it’s actually better than forecast,” Waugh said. “We’ve been planning that deficit for some time. I think there’s been strong cost discipline through the business.

“The reality is your [mid-year] inbound tours has a material impact on the revenues.

“The comparison between England in 2022 and to Wales and Georgia [Tests in 2024] was about 18 to 20 million dollars.”

Meanwhile, former Wallaby Nathan Sharpe has been elected president.

Kathleen Bozanic and Louise Higgins have been added as non-executive board directors. Pip Marlow finished her term at the end of 2024.