Luke Pavillard can now play official matches for Croatia. The Croatian Water Polo Federation (HVS) announced on October 27 that World Aquatics has sent its formal approval for the Mladost left hander to represent the Barakude.
According to HVS, Pavillard’s Croatian citizenship was never in question. What he was missing was the green light from the world governing body, and that has now arrived.
Who is Luke Pavillard
Luke Anthony Pavillard was born on March 13, 1996, in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. HVS describes him as a 200 cm tall left handed outside player, a fast swimmer with a refined shot. He started playing water polo at 12 and grew up in the sport in Perth.
From 2015 to 2019 he studied in the United States and played for the University of the Pacific in Stockton. He debuted for Australia in 2015, but became a regular member of the national team only in 2022. That year he won silver with the Sharks at the World League Intercontinental Cup in Peru, and he went on to play at the 2022, 2023 and 2024 World Championships.
His best known performance came at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Pavillard scored four goals, including a first half hat trick, in Australia’s 8:3 win over Serbia, the team that went on to win the gold medal. Australia finished eighth in Paris.
At club level, Pavillard spent three seasons at Barceloneta, winning three Spanish Leagues, three Spanish Cups, three Spanish Super Cups and a bronze medal in the 2023 Champions League. He then returned home to captain Fremantle Mariners, scoring 90 goals in 18 games in the 2025 Australian League, before joining Pro Recco for the 2025/26 season.
The road to Croatia
Croatia head coach Ivica Tucak first revealed the plan in March. Speaking to hvs.hr on March 27, he said:
“He is a top quality player who has expressed a wish to play for the Croatian national team, the team of his mother’s and grandfather’s homeland. These talks about him playing for Croatia have been going on for some time. I think we need a player with that profile. He has the quality to help us, and players like that, with that quality and that wish to play for Croatia, are absolutely welcome.”
One of the conditions was that Pavillard had to live and play in Croatia. That is why he left Pro Recco for Mladost Zagreb this summer. HVS notes that he had already trained with the national team at earlier gatherings, but he was not allowed to play in official matches until now.
He becomes the third naturalised left hander in Croatian water polo history, after Spanish great Xavier Garcia and Russia born Konstantin Kharkov.
HVS ended its announcement with a short message for the new Barakuda: “Luka, welcome!”
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EXCLUSIVE: Luke Pavillard to join Mladost Zagreb and represent Croatia
[CONFIRMED] Luke Pavillard to Pro Recco
