In a surprising move, recently departed NRL star Suliasi Vunivalu is set to join the Wallabies squad when they reconvene in Hunter Valley, New South Wales today.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Vunivalu – who is leaving his post at the Melbourne Storm to join the Queensland Reds in 2021 – will join Dave Rennie's squad and begin training, pending the results of his Covid-19 test.
Vunivalu's entry into international rugby was set to be next year instead at the completion of his first season with the Reds, should his performances be up to standard. That would follow a similar trajectory to former teammate and compatriot Marika Koroibete, who switched rugby codes after the 2016 NRL season and was also brought into the Wallabies squad a matter of months after.
However Koroibete did not make his international debut until September 2017.