Wallabies 2025

[LeCheese]

Lolesio heading to Japan:

Lolesio’s Japan move puts Lions and World Cup hopes at risk

Wallabies five-eighth Noah Lolesio has agreed to move to Japan to play club rugby in 2026, with an option to play until the end of 2027.

www.smh.com.au

Unsurprising, yet somehow still a bit surprising.

 

[Wilson]

Unsurprising, yet somehow still a bit surprising.

The surprising part for me is it coming out now - I figured we wouldn't hear about a Lolesio departure until at least the new coach, and more likely post Lions.

I do wonder if this is a sign we're about to see a few more departures after the recent run of re-signings, As I understand RA did have some deadlines for negotiations with a bunch of frontline wallabies, so they might be coming due.

 

[Latts1992]

A contract for 2026 with an option to extend to the end of 2027 doesn't sound all that different to Ikitau's contract at Exeter really.

 

[Wilson]

Similar, but Ikitau's was specifically reported as a 9 month deal with RA still very engaged with him and Exeter in managing him and his availability. There's more to come out on this but the initial reporting doesn't sound like that's the case for Lolesio.

 

[Adam84]

I don’t rate Noah as starting 5/8, I’m actually unconvinced any of them are great options but less depth will only leave Australian rugby in a weaker state.

maybe Brumbies/RA should chase some of the Aussie 5/8s in Japan like Lucas or Greene

 

[Strewthcobber]

I don’t rate Noah as starting 5/8, I’m actually unconvinced any of them are great options but less depth will only leave Australian rugby in a weaker state.

maybe Brumbies/RA should chase some of the Aussie 5/8s in Japan like Lucas or Greene

They must both be close to Japan qualified by now? I wonder if there's any chance either gets called up by EJ (Eddie Jones)

 

[Wilson]

I don’t rate Noah as starting 5/8, I’m actually unconvinced any of them are great options but less depth will only leave Australian rugby in a weaker state.

maybe Brumbies/RA should chase some of the Aussie 5/8s in Japan like Lucas or Greene

I reckon if the Brumbies go to market it will either be to lure Pasitoa back or Mclaughlin-Phillips down, I can't see them having the money to lure a those guys back from Japan. At least not without significant RA backing, and I'm doubtful they'll be overly phased about grabbing those guys.

They do also look to be planning for the future fairly well with Meredith though, so they may just look to the current(ish) 20s to try and get someone to bring through in a few years - Focusing on Dillon, and maybe grabbing Fowler, Prass or Nason as a backup, knowing they're all sitting behind a bit of a logjam at the top.

Edit: Or according to Christy it's Edmed they'll chase:

But it’s understood the Brumbies will look even closer at Waratahs playmaker Tane Edmed, who has quickly fallen out of favour under Dan McKellar in 2025.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/04/04/wallabies-star-quits-australian-rugby-schmidt-faces-huge-call-on-no-10-to-face-lions/