5:06am, 27 May 2019

Rising star Isi Naisarani has re-signed with Rugby Australia and the Melbourne Rebels until the end of 2021 on a new two-year deal.

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The 24-year old has established himself as a mainstay of the Melbourne Rebels back-row during this year’s Vodafone Super Rugby campaign and is eligible for a Qantas Wallabies debut this year.

Originally from Fiji, Naisarani moved to Brisbane in 2014 where he progressed from Queensland Premier Rugby with Souths, to the National Rugby Championship, before starring for the Western Force and the Brumbies.

Melbourne Rebels backrower, Isi Naisarani said: “I’m excited to re-sign with the Melbourne Rebels and Australian Rugby.

“I grew up loving the Wallabies and now to be here in my adopted country, and at a great and ambitious club is a dream come true.

“Continuing my Rugby journey in Melbourne is now the plan and I am just focusing on working as hard as I can for the Melbourne Rebels and our fans to see where that journey takes us.”

Qantas Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said: “I’m really pleased for Isi and for Australian Rugby that he’s committed for another two years. He’s an exciting prospect for us and from speaking to him, he’s clearly very passionate about his team mates and about Australian Rugby.

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“He’s a talented player for sure, but one thing that impresses me about Isi is his personal commitment to bettering himself as a player, asking questions and not being afraid to make a mistake in order to learn from it,” Cheika said.

Naisarani will be hoping to lead the Melbourne Rebels to a maiden Vodafone Super Rugby finals appearance this season, as they sit second in the Australian Conference with three rounds remaining.