Len Ikitau's road to the Rugby World Cup will go through Canberra as the ACT Brumbies lock in one of Australia's fastest rising stars on a two-year deal.
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It can be revealed Ikitau has signed with the Brumbies and Rugby Australia until the end of 2023 in a major boost for the Super Rugby Pacific club.
The Wallabies outside centre has flourished at Test level throughout his seven Tests to date, delivering on the potential national coach Dave Rennie saw in him when he drafted him into camp last year with barely a Super Rugby game to his name.
The fleet-footed 22-year-old hopes the best is yet to come, adamant he has "plenty of improvement left" in the tank leading into Australia's Rugby Championship clash with Argentina in Townsville on Saturday night.
"He's a great young talent and a humble young man who's learning quickly what it takes to be successful at this level," Rennie said.
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"He's got a really mature attitude about improving every day and that's something that's exciting for both Wallabies and Brumbies supporters moving forward."
The deal means Ikitau will stay in Australia ahead of the 2023 World Cup in France, with Wallabies fans daring to dream after the national side rose to No. 3 in the world rankings this week.
Ikitau's emergence as one of Australian rugby's most impressive young talents comes as little surprise to Brumbies coach Dan McKellar, who backed the young gun to fill the void left by Tevita Kuridrani this year without a shadow of a doubt.
"His maturity as a player and a person has been clear to see from everyone at the Brumbies, and in a short amount of time, he's become a key pillar for our team in how we look to attack and defend," McKellar said.
"Working with Len over the past four years or so, I've always known he was capable of playing at the very top level and off the back of his commitment to training and doing all the little things that make you a top professional, he's seen the rewards and if he continues on that path, I believe he'll be a big contributor to the Brumbies and the Wallabies for many years to come."
He rose through the ranks in Canberra, winning a John I Dent Cup title with the Tuggeranong Vikings and getting a taste of the next level in the now-defunct NRC, before making his Super Rugby debut in 2019.
"I know I have plenty of improvement left in me and Canberra is the best place for me to continue to develop my game and learn what it takes to be a professional season after season," Ikitau said.
"I'm looking forward to finishing off the 2021 Test season strong and getting back to the Brumbies to prepare for the Super Rugby Pacific competition."
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Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
