How the French will be paying to develop the next generation of Wallabies

June 6, 2026 — 7:30am

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Young Australian prop Lehopa Leota looks like he was built out of Lego blocks by someone trying to construct the perfect prop.

Even before the Herald broke the news that the Junior Wallabies plan to pick the France-based Leota, pictures of the 130kg unit on social media caught the eye.

He looks like a baby Ben Tameifuna, the New Zealander, who has also played for Tonga, and who just won another Champions Cup with Bordeaux.

Leota’s calves are about the same size as his chest. No wonder Racing 92 wanted him. It’s probably no coincidence that Tameifuna played more than 100 times for the Paris club.

If Rugby Australia picks Leota in its under-20s team for the Junior World Championship in Georgia in June and July, it will signify a change in eligibility policy that was no doubt taken seriously.

But the market has been so distorted recently by French raids on young Australians of Pasifika heritage that RA could not afford to stand still.

In fact, while the selection of Leota and fellow France-based prop Hayden Lavercombe could be........

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