Marika Koroibete has withdrawn from the Wallabies spring tour for personal reasons.
David Rennie confirmed Koroibete wouldn't take part in the upcoming trips to Japan and the United Kingdom as he returns home to Australia to spend more time with his family, with his partner recently giving birth to their third child.
“Marika’s chosen not to tour,” Rennie said ahead of next Saturday's test against Japan.
“We’ve been discussing it for a while. Obviously we let him go home a week early during The Rugby Championship.
“COVID’s thrown a lot of curveballs at all of us. Marika’s been away from home for a long time, [wife] Emma’s pretty isolated; they’ve had a newborn baby and they’ve got a couple of other young boys.”
With an impending move to Japanese outfit Panasonic Wild Knights next year, it could mean Koroibete has played his last game in green and gold for a while, should the Giteau Law for overseas-based players be re-introduced.
One of Rennie's standout performers this year, the spring tour could give a glimpse into the Wallabies' backline depth.
Koroibete didn't feature in the Wallabies' last out win over Argentina in the Rugby Championship, which saw Rennie trial 21-year-old prodigy Jordan Petaia on the wing.
Rennie said while the loss of Koroibete, the 2019 John Eales Medal winner, is a big blow, it will allow the Wallabies coach to cast an eye over his backline depth with two years to go until the World Cup.
“As always, it’s an opportunity, isn’t it? Marika didn’t play the last game [against Argentina]. Jordie [Petaia] got a start, it gave Tom Wright a sniff off the bench who played really well,” Rennie said.
“Marika’s an unbelievable player, massive work ethic and physicality, so big shoes to feel. But we feel… it’s a position we’ve got a bit of depth in.”
As well as Koroibete's omission, back-rower Sean McMahon has left the squad's bubble for family reasons, while Samu Kerevi is battling an ankle injury that is likely to see him ruled out against the Brave Blossoms.
Rising prop Pone Fa’amausili will also be absent against Japan due to ongoing calf and hamstring complications, Rennie confirmed.