The Plus500 Brumbies are delighted to announce backrower Rob Valetini has recommitted to the club and Rugby Australia until the end of 2023.
The 22-year-old has been in career best form in 2021 and is coming off a Man of the Match performance in the side's Knockout Semi Final victory against the Western Force on Saturday night.
Valetini has started every game for the club on their way to this weekend's Harvey Norman Super Rugby AU Grand Final, leading the way in carries by a forward in the competition.
Born and educated in Melbourne, Valetini joined the Brumbies from school and earned his stripes playing for Canberra Vikings in the NRC before making his Super Rugby debut against the Sunwolves in 2018.
Hampered by injury in the early stages of his career, Brumby no. 199, Valetini has played every Super Rugby game since the start of 2020 and has already represented the Wallabies on four occasions.
A dominant fixture on both sides of the ball, the Brumbies faithful will be rapt to have Rob Valetini wearing ACT colours for at least the next two years.
Plus500 Brumbies backrower Rob Valetini said: “I couldn't be happier to be calling the Brumbies home for a further two years."
"The coaching and staff here have really helped in my development as a player and also as a person and I feel I've got a lot of improvement left in me.
"The club and Rugby Australia have showed a lot of faith in me and I look forward to repaying that."
Plus500 Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said: “Rob's development as a player is clear for all to see and his growth away from the field as a person is also really impressive."
"He's really matured as a member of the squad and is becoming a leader within the group which has helped translate to more consistent performances on the field.
"He's become one of the best trainers in the group and is understanding what it takes to be a professional footballer day in day out."
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: "From an Australian Rugby point of view it's incredibly pleasing to re-sign a player of Rob's potential."
"We saw really big shifts from Rob in the last weeks of our campaign in 2020 and to his credit he's worked incredibly hard in the off season and has been a stand out performer for the Brumbies week in week out.
"His impact on the game, with or without the ball is impressive and that's exciting for the Wallabies moving forward."
ROB VALETINI
Position: Backrower
Date of Birth: 3/9/1998 (age: 22)
Place of Birth: Melbourne, Victoria
Height: 193cm
Weight: 113kg
School: Westall Secondary College, Clayton, VIC
Brumby Number: 199
Super Rugby Debut: 2018 v Sunwolves (a), Tokyo
Super Rugby Caps: 37
Super Rugby Points: 25 (5 tries)
ACT Club: Wests Lions
Wallabies debut: 2019 v Samoa, Sydney
Wallabies caps: 4
The Plus500 Brumbies will play the Queensland Reds in the Harvey Norman Super Rugby AU Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium in Canberra on Saturday May 8 at 7:45pm AEDT. LIVE and AD FREE on the new Home of Rugby, Stan Sport and simulcast on 9Gem.
