It is a revelation that might annoy Exeter fans. Star Wallabies centre Len Ikitau says he would love to be pulling on the Chiefs jersey again next season – but will instead be playing Down Under after falling foul of a ‘confusing’ change in Rugby Australia’s selection policy.
Exeter confirmed the signing of Ikitau from Aussie side Brumbies in April 2025 on a one-year deal at a time when ‘Giteau’s Law’ – which restricted how many overseas-based players Australia could pick – was still in place. That rule was scrapped in August of the same year.
It was the reason Ikitau only signed a short-term deal at Sandy Park. And he tells Daily Mail Sport that he’d be up for another stint once he’s returned to the Brumbies and played at the 2027 World Cup.
‘There were a lot of different things going on in the background,’ Ikitau says. ‘It was confusing. Rugby Australia said they would only allow players playing Super Rugby to be picked (for Australia for the World Cup). They put a lot of pressure on me to re-sign at home to give myself the opportunity to play at the World Cup. I really want to do that, but then again I’ve also really enjoyed my time here at Exeter.
‘If there was an opportunity to come back and everything fell into place, then I’d definitely look at it. Tom Hooper (Ikitau’s Exeter and Australia team-mate) backed himself and signed for two years. It’s something I should have done, to be honest.
‘But I’ve got a contract to go back to now, at the Brumbies at the end of the year. I do love the Brumbies too, but it would have been nice to stay over here.’
‘If there was an opportunity to come back and everything fell into place, then I’d definitely look at it,’ Len Ikitau says of a possible return to Exeter after the World Cup
Ikitau scores for the Chiefs against Bath at Sandy Park last month in what has been an injury-hit season
Ikitau made his Chiefs debut last October and while his first season in England has been interrupted by a shoulder injury, he has undoubtedly shown his Test class.
And after a horror 2024-25, Rob Baxter’s side have returned to somewhere near their best this season. They host Saracens on the final day of the PREM’s regular season on Saturday, with the game a straight shootout for the league’s final play-off spot. Northampton, Bath and Leicester have already sealed their places.
Exeter are a place and three points ahead of Saracens going into their showdown. The two teams have been bitter rivals over the years, both competing for the title in the past. Baxter’s side have home advantage, but a tight battle is expected.
‘I’m disappointed I’ve missed out on a lot of games because I was only with the team for one season,’ Ikitau, 27, says. ‘But hopefully we’ll be able to win something. It’s another man test against Saracens. They like to bully teams but we’re going to rip into it.
‘We need to front up and be physical. It’s a quarter-final and our last home game at Sandy Park. The winner goes through and the loser doesn’t make the finals. There’s plenty to play for.’
Does he think Exeter can end the season as PREM champions? ‘One hundred per cent. For us, it’s about consistently showing up physically and mentally. Against Bath (a 35-12 win), the boys were physical, we were getting off the line and we had some grunt in our carries. Against Harlequins (a 41-24 defeat), we didn’t show up. It’s about getting ready for war and knowing what we can produce when we are at our best.’
As someone who knows, how would Ikitau compare the PREM to playing rugby Down Under? ‘I didn’t know what to expect coming over here,’ he says, ‘so I spoke to a lot of boys and they were saying how slow and physical the rugby is.
‘But it’s not slow, I can tell you that. It’s been quite similar to Super Rugby and sometimes a bit faster – quite challenging. I came over here to challenge myself and I definitely will go back a better player.’
‘PREM rugby is not slow, I can tell you that. It’s been quite similar to Super Rugby and sometimes a bit faster’
‘Winning the World Cup at home is only going to make rugby more popular in Australia. It would be nice to see rugby union back up there, along with rugby league and AFL’
Ikitau is hoping to grab a week off to travel with his family before he gets back to Australia. But then it is straight into it again with the Nations Championship and then The Rugby Championship.
‘There’s still a lot of rugby to be played,’ he says. ‘It’s crazy. It’s a big, big season, especially if you play over here. There are a lot of games back-to-back if you play for your country – a lot of physical battles. It’s quite challenging.’
But will it be worth it if he can be part of an Australia team that wins the World Cup after their recent indifferent form?
‘Us potentially winning the World Cup at home is only going to make rugby more popular in Australia,’ he adds. ‘It would be nice to see rugby union back up there, along with rugby league and AFL. For that to happen, we need to win games and win trophies. We want to bring the Wallabies back to the glory days, which was winning World Cups.’