The final frontier: Australian rugby great Matt Giteau bound for LA Giltinis in Major League Rugby

Giteau has signed a one-year deal with LA Giltinis for their maiden Major League Rugby campaign slated to get underway this month.

The 38-year-old spent last year's John I Dent Cup campaign with the Gungahlin Eagles after the COVID-19 pandemic cut short his time with Suntory in Japan.

Now the former ACT Brumbies champion has gone from RMC's Portsea Oval to the 77,500-seat stadium that hosted the Olympic Games in 1932 and 1984 as well as Super Bowl I and VII.

"Starting a franchise afresh, the history I have with certain players and staff at the Giltinis and the family feel to this adventure were all big things that persuaded me," Giteau said.

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"And I get to live in one of the coolest cities in the world and experience this with my kids at an age when they'll remember it.

"To be honest, I felt a bit unfulfilled with the way things ended in Japan and it made me think that just retiring because of 'age' was selling myself a bit short.

"Like everyone, I felt that moment this year when sport was taken away so I got excited with the LA offer and realised you are a long time retired.

Giteau joins Adam Ashley-Cooper on the books at Giltinis with the pair of close mates and ex-Wallabies teammates adding a raft of experience to coach Darren Coleman's roster.

"I still love to play and compete. What will give me just as much satisfaction is helping to create the identity of the Giltinis and developing the potential in some excellent American and international youngsters for the club's future," Giteau said.

"I've had a lot of opportunities to speak to Darren Coleman about the values he holds dear and how important it is to nurture local American and Canadian players and get them into national teams.

"I feel I know what successful clubs look like...you need strong leaders and you need to establish what you stand for early on and off the field.

"If you stick to those standards it becomes habitual for those who follow in the seasons ahead.

"I'm excited. I know how big sport is in the United States in general and I see Major League Rugby having a real crack to turn the USA into a dominant rugby nation."

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