Qantas Wallabies star Dane Haylett-Petty has committed his future to Australian Rugby, signing a two-year extension with the ARU and the Western Force until the end of 2019.
The exciting fullback enjoyed a memorable 2016, starring for the Western Force before going on to make his Test debut against England in June and then taking home the Wallabies Rookie of the Year at the John Eales Medal.
The 27-year old truly established himself as a Test regular, starting in each of his 14 Wallabies Tests and notching four tries. “I’m very excited to be staying home and playing for the Force, obviously the draw card of trying to get back into that Wallabies team was a large part of my decision,” Haylett-Petty said.
“I really enjoyed last year, the challenges week in and week out, watching my game grow and the Force were a big part of that and I feel like we’re really heading in the right direction and we have a great group of young men with a bright future.
“Pulling on that Gold jersey was a goal I've had my whole career. I'm looking forward to the season ahead and hopeful of representing Australia again." Qantas Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said:
“Dane’s performances in 2016 spoke for themselves and our desire for him to stay and play in Australia show how much we value him as a player. "We know that his best is yet to come and we will be working hard with Dane in 2017 to ensure that he achieves the goals he's set out for the next few years,” Cheika said.
Haylett-Petty is somewhat of a late bloomer in the Test arena, having already played professional rugby in France (Biarritz) and Japan (Tokyo Shokki Shuttles) before returning to the Western Force in 2014.
A graduate of the Hale School in Perth, Haylett-Petty was born in Durban, South Africa before moving to Australia at 10 years of age.
Haylett-Petty represented Australia Under 20s at the 2008 and 2009 IRB Junior World Championships, and debuted for the Australian Men’s Sevens team in Dubai in 2008.
Dane Haylett-Petty
Position: Fullback
Height: 190cm
Weight: 100kg
DOB: 19/06/89
Super Rugby debut: 2008 v Chiefs
Super Rugby points: 30 (6T)
Australia Sevens debut: Dubai 2008
Test debut: 2016 v England, Brisbane
Tests points: 20 (4T)
