Wallabies legend Marika Koroibete has hinted at his ambitions to contest for a spot in next year's British and Irish Lions tour after suffering a broken wrist.
Koroibete was forced from the field in the opening Bledisloe Test after picking up the knock in Sydney.
Watch every game of the Wallabies Spring Tour live and exclusive on Stan Sport.
The winger missed selection for the end-of-season tour, taking to social media to confirm a fracture in his wrist.
With Koroibete believed to have hung up the boots at the end of 2023, the former Rebel showed his excitement for the Lions tour and potentially playing a role.
"Wishing my Wallabies brothers all the best for the Spring Tour, especially those starting their journey in the gold jersey," he said in a statement via social media.
"Unfortunately I picked up a fractured wrist in the first test against the All Blacks, and whilst it is healing well, I will need to start pre season for the Wild Knights (we have some unfinished business from last season after going through undefeated only to fall short in the final).
"It was so good to be a part of the rebuild with Joe and the boys and I will continue to support the growth of the team. I will definitely be staying in touch for next year!"
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt indicated that Koroibete's return to Japan was always likely for the Spring Tour, which has happened in past seasons.
He’s just having a break, to be honest,” the Wallabies boss said in October.
“He probably felt he wasn’t at the very top of his game and he was a little bit flat after the season that he’d had.
“He’s required to be back and training with Panasonic (Wild Knights, his club in Japan) reasonably soon. So he’s going to get a break and then he’ll head back and he’s not a player that we (Rugby Australia) own so that’s part of the flexibilities that we need to have.
“It’s the flexibility that we have tried to have with Samu (Kerevi) and Will (Skelton) as well.”
