- RA made offer to Roosters forward on September 28
- His manager has confirmed offer has been withdrawn
- Teammate Joseph Suaalii has already defected
Rugby Australia has sensationally withdrawn its offer to NRL star Angus Crichton just days after throwing money at him to defect from the rival code.
The governing body tabled an offer of $1.6million for the 2024 and 2025 seasons for the Roosters forward to play for Perth-based Western Force in Super Rugby and the Wallabies.
Crichton is contracted to the Roosters next year but the club gave him the thumbs-up to explore possibilities outside rugby league.
Crichton was a standout rugby union player for Sydney’s prestigious Scots College before joining the NRL with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, then switching to the Roosters in 2019
Had Crichton signed, Rugby Australia would have wanted him to play for the Western Force – and for the Wallabies under coach Eddie Jones (pictured)
The 27-year-old was a schoolboy rugby prodigy at the prestigious Scots College in Sydney’s east before signing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs when he finished high school.
He then joined the Tricolours in 2019 and won a premiership under coach Trent Robinson that season.
His manager David Rawlings confirmed the withdrawal of the offer on Tuesday afternoon.
Rugby Australia had copped criticism from member unions for making the offer, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Crichton is currently in France for the Rugby World Cup and it’s understood the Western Force would have used him as a back-rower or centre had he made the switch.
Wallabies halfback Nic White and five-eighth Ben Donaldson are two big names who have confirmed they are heading to Western Australia to play under Cron next season.
The 27-year-old (pictured left at Roosters training with teammate Sam Walker) is contracted to his NRL club for 2024, but the team gave him the thumbs-up to explore other opportunities
Crichton’s teammate Joseph Suaalii (pictured running the ball against Cronulla) has already defected and will switch codes in 2025
Crichton was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in February and was sidelined until April.
‘Angus is under appropriate professional support and treatment for medically diagnosed bipolar disorder which he has been dealing with for some time,’ his Charlie Crichton said at the time.
‘He is fully supported by his family, his management and the Sydney Roosters club as he works towards recovery.’
Crichton’s Roosters teammate Joseph Suaalii has already jumped ship to union, signing a $1.6million-per-season deal that will see him defect as of 2025.
He’s slated to play for the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby and represent the Wallabies, with the British and Irish Lions Tour that year believed to be a major drawcard when Rugby Australia was chasing his signature.