Code Switch Challenge: Parramatta Eels Poach Rising Kiwi Star Dru Faletolu

🏉 The Parramatta Eels are once again looking across the Tasman and into the future, confirming the signing of a talented young cross-code convert from New Zealand, Dru Faletolu. Following a decision to switch allegiances from rugby union, Faletolu is the latest in a growing line of Kiwi schoolboys making the leap to the NRL.

Faletolu joins a contingent of young New Zealand prospects—including Harry Inch (Warriors) and Saumaki Saumaki (Rabbitohs)—who have recently traded the ruck for the ruck. Zero Tackle understands that the Eels have secured the signature of the promising athlete, who is set to immediately integrate into the club’s development pathways.

Bolstering the SG Ball Squad

Still in the nascent stages of his career, Faletolu will represent the Parramatta Eels’ Under-19s SG Ball Cup team. His arrival injects fresh talent into a squad determined to achieve glory in the 2026 season, especially after narrowly missing out on the title this year, falling to the Sydney Roosters in the grand final. The Eels are clearly intent on building a dominant pipeline from their junior ranks right through to the NRL.

Faletolu arrives with a strong rugby union pedigree, having spent time in high-level development programs. He was a former Under-15s Super Rugby representative for the Melbourne Rebels and, more recently, was part of the Hurricanes Under-18s regional development squad earlier this year. Crucially, he hails from the prestigious Wellington College in New Zealand, known for producing top-tier sporting talent.

The Trans-Tasman Talent War

The signing of Faletolu underscores the deepening battle between the NRL and New Zealand Rugby (NZR) for the nation’s best young athletes. NRL clubs are increasingly viewing the well-established union schoolboy system as a highly effective, ready-made talent pool for league.

This trend is creating significant frustration within the union ranks. Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge articulated the growing concern, telling Stuff: “They [league clubs] unashamedly target rugby union development systems because they think they are so good.”

For the Parramatta Eels, however, the successful recruitment of Faletolu represents a major win in this ongoing trans-Tasman talent war. It reinforces their commitment to a long-term strategy of investing in potent, versatile young players, ensuring their pipeline remains robust as they build towards sustained success in the senior competition. Faletolu’s code switch is yet another reminder that the NRL is now a global destination for elite young rugby talent.