Skelton has been a standout performer for Joe Schmidt’s side this year and was particularly impactful in the second and third Tests against the British and Irish Lions.
He continued that form with a barnstorming shift against the Springboks in their Rugby Championship opener, helping the side to an incredible 22-38 victory after trailing 22-0.
While Skelton gave hope that he’d feature for the Wallabies in the home matches of the competition against Argentina as well as the Bledisloe Cup games against the All Blacks, that does not look like it will be the case.
“I will definitely be on the flight home,” Skelton told reporters in South Africa after beating the Boks in Johannesburg earlier this month.
“We are having ongoing conversations about what the rest of the Rugby Championship looks like. We will have a think this week and have a chat with the brains trust and see what we get to.”
However, according to The Roar, Skelton will return to France and link up with La Rochelle as they continue preparations for the Top 14 season.
The Ronan O’Gara-coached side finished the regular 2024/25 season outside of a play-off pace and were knocked out of the Investec Champions Cup at the round of 16 phase.
La Rochelle kick off their season with a clash against last season’s runners-up, Bordeaux, on September 6, the same day as the Wallabies’ clash with Argentina in round three of the Rugby Championship.
While La Rochelle cannot prevent the Wallabies from selecting Skelton, under World Rugby regulation 9, Rugby Australia have treaded carefully to keep the player and club happy when they have selected him.
According to World Rugby regulation 9 (c) (iii), the French club aren’t required to release the forward for the entirety of the Rugby Championship and can request that he return to France during the rest periods.
The tournament runs for eight weeks and clubs only need to release the player for six of those weeks.
World Rugby regulation 9(c)(iii) for Rugby Championship Release Period reads: “Subject to the provisions of Regulation 9.32 and Regulation 9.33 during the Rugby Championship Release Period Unions may only exercise the Right to Release pursuant to this Regulation 9 for six weeks out of the eight week period.
“The six weeks shall be the same weeks for each of the senior National Representative Team, the next senior National Representative Team and the Under 20 National Representative Team.”
The report adds that it is yet to be seen when Skelton will next play for the Wallabies, with Schmidt’s side still to play another nine Tests in 2025.
However, he is set to miss both the games against Los Pumas as well as the matches against the All Blacks.
While the Wallabies would be within their rights to select Skelton for the remaining matches of the tournament, one has to assume that not selecting him is to ensure a good club-country relationship while also managing the star forward’s workload.
His unavailability is yet another blow to the Wallabies, with Tom Wright sustaining a season-ending injury against the Springboks in the Cape Town defeat.
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