Clermont giants Miles Amatosero set to sign for Waratahs in Aussie rugby coup Eddie Jones, Emmanuel Meafou

Finally, the Waratahs appear to have landed a giant. Miles Amatosero – the 203cm, 125kg, 20-year-old – is set to return from France to sign a multi-year contract with the Waratahs and Rugby Australia.

After letting Emmanuel Meafou slip through his fingers – another giant, who will join France for his last Six Nations match before being eligible for the Blues at the end of December – Australian rugby can be delighted to have recovered one.

It is understood that new Wallabies coach Eddie Jones was influential in encouraging the second-rower to return home, with cash-in French clubs including Clermont keen to lock down the exciting emerging star. He will be eligible to play for the Wallabies as soon as his pen reaches the dotted line.

As well as touring the Wallabies World Cup facilities over the past week, Jones has spent time speaking with eligible Australian players in France.

The Waverley College product is set to sign with the Waratahs, having spent the last three seasons with Clermont in the French Top 14.

The second rower signed with Clermont as a teenager and made his Top 14 debut aged 18 in 2020.

Amatosero has made 13 appearances this season for Clermont, starting in almost half of them and appearing in the Champions Cup.

His departure is the second blow for Clermont, as the French side failed to lure Wallaby Jed Holloway to the club.

The expected signing of Amatosero is a huge blow for the Waratahs, who have been bleeding locks since the departure of Michael Cheika in 2015.

Miles Amatosero on the loose against Brive. Photo: Twitter

When the Cheika Waratahs won the Super Rugby title in 2014, they had Kane Douglas and Jacques Potgieter in second tier with Will Skelton coming off the bench. The Waratahs have not recovered since their departures.

In stark contrast, the Brumbies currently have three Test locks and the extra meat on the bones has seen them regularly challenge New Zealand opposition and, subsequently, Super Rugby competition. Previously, they had Rory Arnold and Sam Carter until the 2019 World Cup.

Waratahs coach Darren Coleman has been watching a lock since he was unveiled as head coach in 2021, noting the second line was one of three key positions they needed to strengthen.

Although they failed to lure Douglas from France, they managed with a number of hybrid forwards, including Test forwards Ned Hanigan and Jed Holloway and Hugh Sinclair playing in the second tier.

Former Chiefs second line Taleni Seu has also bolstered the Waratahs’ second tier this year.