Western Force back Zac Lomax will leave Super Rugby Pacific at the end of next season after signing a three-year contract with NRL expansion side the PNG Chiefs, ending any prospect of a Wallabies debut — but Australian rugby has secured a major win with teenage star Treyvon Pritchard recommitting to the Queensland Reds.

• Lomax signed with the PNG Chiefs on Sunday in Port Moresby, becoming the club’s fifth confirmed signing ahead of their 2028 NRL debut
• The 26-year-old will see out his Force contract and the remainder of the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season before switching codes
• Lomax scored two tries in seven appearances for the Force after joining mid-season and had been targeting a Wallabies call-up
• Queensland Reds rising star Treyvon Pritchard, 19, turned down the Chiefs and the Sydney Roosters to sign a new three-year deal with Rugby Australia
• Racing 92 centre Joey Manu is also reportedly weighing up a move to the PNG Chiefs

Lomax was unveiled as “Chief #005” at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Sunday, formalising his move alongside his family, PNG Chiefs CEO Lorna McPherson and general manager of football Michael Chammas.

“I did not think that it would be so soon, but life changes and circumstances do and it is all for the better,” Lomax said. “For me, everything comes for a reason and you go with your heart and gut.”

The former NSW State of Origin representative had switched codes mid-season to join the Force after a turbulent departure from the Parramatta Eels and the collapse of the R360 competition. Despite a promising start in Super Rugby Pacific — two tries in seven appearances — Lomax is currently sidelined by injury and his ambitions of earning a Wallabies call-up now appear over.

He will remain with the Force for the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season before joining the Chiefs for their inaugural pre-season in late 2027.

“I am all in and it is obviously in 2028, so with regards to rugby I am still there for another year and really looking forward to finish the best I can, and compete to the best I can,” Lomax said.

Chammas described Lomax as a key piece of the Chiefs’ puzzle.

“We are delighted to have Zac onboard, and everyone knows how phenomenal a footballer he is,” Chammas said. “He will do wonderful things for this country.”

The signing is the latest in a growing list of cross-code raids by the expansion franchise. Lomax joins halfback Jarome Luai, fullback Alex Johnston, utility Connor Watson and prop Matty Lees on the Chiefs’ roster, while Melbourne Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster has been granted permission to negotiate with the club.

Racing 92 inside centre Joey Manu is also reportedly weighing up a return to rugby league with the Chiefs after visiting Port Moresby last week. Manu, a former New Zealand international in both codes, would be a significant loss for French rugby if he were to depart.

Pritchard stays

However, the PNG Chiefs have not had it all their own way. In a significant victory for Australian rugby, Queensland Reds teenager Treyvon Pritchard has turned down the Chiefs and the Sydney Roosters to sign a three-year contract extension with the Reds and Rugby Australia.

Pritchard, 19, was one of the Chiefs’ primary targets after a breakout first year out of school that included his Super Rugby Pacific debut for the Reds and a starring role at the Under-20s World Championships in Georgia, where the utility back was named in the team of the tournament.

His retention sits alongside Max Jorgensen’s long-term recommitment last year as a landmark moment for Australian rugby, which has lost numerous teenage talents to the NRL over the past decade. Eleven players who featured in the most recent State of Origin series had played schoolboy rugby or junior representative rugby in Sydney or Brisbane.

Pritchard’s tournament in Georgia was cut short by a broken leg suffered in a hip-drop tackle against Wales. He underwent surgery last week and is hoped to return in time to potentially feature for Australia A against the USA in late October.

New Wallabies coach Les Kiss, who named his first 34-player squad last week for the August Tests against Japan, indicated he plans to explore his depth in the coming months ahead of next year’s World Cup.

“Over the next 10 Test matches, I’m going to stretch it out a bit and make sure I see a few players as well in other positions,” Kiss said.

Les Kiss has named his first Wallabies squad as head coach, with uncapped Queensland Reds centre Isaac Henry the headline inclusion in a 34-player group selected for the upcoming Flight Centre Series against Japan.

Key squad news

• Uncapped Queensland Reds centre Isaac Henry earns his first Wallabies call-up
• Reds lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto recalled after missing the Nations Championship squad
• Waratahs prop Isaac Kailea returns to replace retired James Slipper
• Len Ikitau (ankle) and Tom Hooper (shoulder) ruled out through injury
• Carter Gordon, Josh Nasser and Hunter Paisami return from injury
• Harry Wilson retained as captain; squad trimmed from 36 to 34

Henry, 27, is the only uncapped player in the squad and is in line for his Test debut after last year’s John Eales Medallist Len Ikitau was ruled out with a minor ankle injury. The powerful midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough Super Rugby Pacific campaign with the Reds in 2026, having battled through a series of devastating injuries earlier in his career, and now finds himself on the cusp of pulling on the gold jersey for the first time.

The Wallabies will face Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms on back-to-back Saturdays — first at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka on 8 August before returning home for the second Test at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on 15 August.

Kiss, who was announced as Joe Schmidt’s successor 450 days ago but only officially took office this week following the conclusion of Queensland’s Super Rugby season, has not strayed far from the group that played through the Nations Championship in July. The squad has been trimmed from 36 to 34, however, and the new head coach has made several pointed selection calls that signal his thinking ahead of next year’s home World Cup.

Chief among the changes is the recall of Reds enforcer Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who was controversially overlooked for the July Tests and instead played for the Barbarians and Souths in Queensland Premier Rugby. The 45-cap lock brings considerable experience to the forward pack and could also offer Kiss a back-row option, particularly given the omission of former captain Nick Champion de Crespigny.

Waratahs prop Isaac Kailea has also been brought back into the fold after a two-year absence from the national set-up. The 8-cap loosehead replaces James Slipper, the Test match record-holder who returned to Canberra after an SOS call-up out of retirement in July. Kailea’s inclusion is part of what appears to be a deliberate push to build younger depth at loosehead ahead of the World Cup.

The squad is bolstered by the return of three players who missed the final Nations Championship Test against Italy in Perth. Hooker Josh Nasser is available again after recovering from a concussion sustained against France, inside centre Hunter Paisami has overcome a knee complaint, and fly-half Carter Gordon has shaken off the calf injury that sidelined him since the opening Test against Ireland. Gordon will compete with Ben Donaldson and the uncapped Declan Meredith for the starting fly-half role.

A new chapter begins 🦘

Les Kiss' first Wallabies squad. pic.twitter.com/owf8jn0jWq

— Wallabies (@wallabies) July 23, 2026

Tom Hooper continues his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury and remains unavailable, joining Ikitau, Zac Lomax, Tom Lynagh, Will Skelton and several others on the sidelines. Winger Corey Toole and centre Josh Flook, who were both part of the July squad, have been dropped entirely.

Racing 92 prop Taniela Tupou is the sole overseas-based selection in the group, which is heavily weighted towards Queensland, with the Reds contributing the lion’s share of players across both the forward pack and the backline.

Number eight Harry Wilson has been retained as captain, a role he has held since 2024. There had been speculation Kiss might hand the armband to Reds skipper Fraser McReight, but the new coach has opted for continuity in his first squad.

“Selection is always a challenging process, but as coaches we’ve looked to bring together a group based on form, cohesion and how we want to play the game,” Kiss said.

“Spending time with the group over the last few weeks alongside Scott McLeod and Jonny Fisher has been incredibly valuable as we look to hit the ground running.

“It’s been encouraging to see how tight they are as a group and how hard they work for each other and the gold jersey. The challenge now is for everyone to roll up their sleeves and find a new level of consistency.”

The squad will assemble in Sydney on Tuesday before departing for Japan next Saturday.

Kiss takes the reins with the Wallabies’ July results fresh in the mind. Australia lost narrowly to Ireland 31-33 in Sydney before a chastening 26-42 defeat to France in Brisbane, then brought an end to a six-game losing streak with a dominant 57-10 victory over Italy in Perth — a match in which Josh Canham became the first Wallaby in 127 years to score a hat-trick.

The Japan series represents Kiss’s first opportunity to put his own stamp on the side before the serious business of the Rugby Championship begins at the end of August, with Tests against Argentina in Jujuy and Mendoza, South Africa in Perth, and New Zealand in Auckland and Sydney. The Wallabies will then head north in November for Nations Championship Tests against England at Twickenham, Scotland at Murrayfield and Wales at the Principality Stadium.

With the World Cup on home soil now barely 14 months away, these two Tests against Japan offer Kiss a crucial window to assess his playing stocks and begin building the combinations he wants to take into 2027.

Wallabies squad for the Flight Centre Series Tests against Japan

Forwards (19): Allan Alaalatoa (ACT Brumbies, 91 caps), Miles Amatosero (NSW Waratahs, 1 cap), Angus Bell (NSW Waratahs, 53 caps), Charlie Cale (ACT Brumbies, 2 caps), Josh Canham (Queensland Reds, 5 caps), Isaac Kailea (NSW Waratahs, 8 caps), Fraser McReight (Queensland Reds, 42 caps), Josh Nasser (Queensland Reds, 13 caps), Zane Nonggorr (Queensland Reds, 20 caps), Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Western Force, 28 caps), Billy Pollard (ACT Brumbies, 21 caps), Aidan Ross (Queensland Reds, 3 caps), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Queensland Reds, 45 caps), Lachlan Shaw (ACT Brumbies, 2 caps), Carlo Tizzano (Western Force, 15 caps), Taniela Tupou (Racing 92, 70 caps), Rob Valetini (ACT Brumbies, 65 caps), Jeremy Williams (Western Force, 28 caps), Harry Wilson (c) (Queensland Reds, 39 caps).

Backs (15): Jock Campbell (Queensland Reds, 6 caps), Filipo Daugunu (Queensland Reds, 22 caps), Ben Donaldson (Western Force, 21 caps), Carter Gordon (Queensland Reds, 10 caps), Isaac Henry (Queensland Reds, uncapped), Max Jorgensen (NSW Waratahs, 23 caps), Ryan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies, 8 caps), Tate McDermott (Queensland Reds, 53 caps), Declan Meredith (ACT Brumbies, 2 caps), Hunter Paisami (Queensland Reds, 35 caps), Dylan Pietsch (Western Force, 11 caps), Harry Potter (NSW Waratahs, 12 caps), Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (NSW Waratahs, 21 caps), Kalani Thomas (Queensland Reds, 1 cap), Tom Wright (ACT Brumbies, 46 caps).

Unavailable for selection: Ethan Dobbins, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon, Tom Hooper, Len Ikitau, Zac Lomax, Tom Lynagh, Henry Robertson, Tom Robertson, Blake Schoupp, Will Skelton.

Match details:

Wallabies v Japan, Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka. Saturday 8 August, 9.15pm AEST / 8.15pm JST.

Wallabies v Japan, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville. Saturday 15 August, 3.00pm AEST.

Joe Schmidt’s departure from the Wallabies will not spell the end of his involvement in Australian rugby, with the outgoing head coach confirmed as part of a high-powered Australia A coaching group led by ACT Brumbies boss Stephen Larkham.

Rugby Australia announced on Friday that Larkham will take charge of the second-tier programme in 2026, with Schmidt and Western Force head coach Simon Cron completing the coaching ticket. The appointment ensures Schmidt, widely regarded as one of rugby’s most astute tactical minds, remains embedded in the Australian system ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil.

Schmidt will conclude his time as Wallabies head coach after the Nations Championship Test against Italy in Perth on July 18, handing the reins to Les Kiss. The New Zealander had initially planned to step away at the end of the 2025 Rugby Championship before extending his tenure to accommodate Kiss finishing his commitments with the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby Pacific.

The 60-year-old has been open about his desire to spend more time with his family, particularly his son Luke, who has severe epilepsy. He is expected to return to Ireland for several months after the July handover before pulling on the Australian coaching kit once more for the Australia A campaign.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia A are set to embark on a two-game tour of the United States in October, reportedly facing the USA Eagles, who have already qualified for the 2027 World Cup. The full fixture list is expected to be confirmed later this month.

While the move from Wallabies head coach to Australia A assistant might appear a demotion on paper, it is a deliberate and calculated choice. Schmidt served as a senior assistant to Ian Foster’s All Blacks in 2022 and 2023, helping guide New Zealand to the World Cup final, and has never been one to let ego dictate his decision-making. Those close to the situation suggest he is highly conscious of allowing Kiss to take full ownership of the Wallabies without his presence clouding the picture.

The appointment nonetheless keeps open the tantalising possibility of Schmidt taking up a more formal role with the Wallabies in 2027. Rugby Australia has been eager to retain his services in some capacity through to the home World Cup, though the coach has stopped short of committing to anything beyond being available as a sounding board for his successor.

Schmidt’s record across more than 100 Tests as head coach of Ireland and Australia — in addition to senior roles with the All Blacks, Leinster, the Blues and ASM Clermont Auvergne — makes him one of the most decorated coaches in the professional era. His three Six Nations titles and a Grand Slam with Ireland, along with the transformation of a Wallabies side left in ruins after the 2023 World Cup, underline the scale of expertise he brings to the Australia A environment.

Larkham earns top job after sustained coaching success

Larkham, meanwhile, earns the top job as recognition of his sustained excellence across a 16-year coaching career. The former Wallabies fly-half, who won 102 Test caps and was part of Australia’s 1999 World Cup-winning squad, has built an impressive CV since hanging up his boots. His coaching journey began at the Brumbies in 2011 as an assistant before he was elevated to the head coach role in 2014. He served as Wallabies attack coach from 2015 to 2019, a period that included Australia’s run to the 2015 World Cup final, before a three-year stint as senior coach at Munster in Ireland.

Since returning to the Brumbies in 2022, Larkham has guided the Canberra-based franchise to two Super Rugby Pacific semi-final appearances, most recently being eliminated in the qualifying finals.

“Australia A is a crucial bridge between Super Rugby and Test rugby,” Larkham said. “It gives players the opportunity to experience the demands of an international programme while continuing their development in a high-performance environment. There is some outstanding talent coming through Australian rugby and it’s exciting to work with players who have the potential to become future Wallabies.”

Cron rounds out the coaching group fresh from leading the Force to their best season in 12 years, winning five of their last six matches in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign. The experienced coach recently re-signed with the Perth-based franchise for the 2027 season.

Building depth ahead of 2027

Rugby Australia’s Director of High Performance, Peter Horne, framed the appointments as central to the organisation’s World Cup preparation strategy.

“We are pleased to have assembled a highly credentialed and experienced Australia A coaching staff for this year,” Horne said. “To have Stephen, Simon and Joe driving this programme will ensure our next cohort of players get access to an elite-level environment where they have the opportunity to grow and develop their games. With the home World Cup firmly on the horizon, building genuine depth is one of our key priorities, and this campaign will allow us to do exactly that.”

The Australia A programme has become an increasingly important pillar of Rugby Australia’s high-performance pathway since its return from a 14-year absence in 2022. The team has recorded six wins and a draw from 11 matches, with previous campaigns taking in tours to Japan, Fiji for the Pacific Nations Cup, and the United Kingdom for fixtures against England A and the Bristol Bears.

By exposing a broader pool of players to an elite-level environment, the programme is designed to bridge the gap between domestic Super Rugby Pacific competition and the demands of Test rugby — a gap that has historically been one of Australian rugby’s most persistent weaknesses.

The strength of this year’s coaching ticket sends a clear signal about the seriousness with which Rugby Australia is approaching the task. With Schmidt’s tactical acumen, Larkham’s development pedigree and Cron’s recent Super Rugby success, Australia A’s next cohort of aspiring Wallabies will have access to a coaching brain trust few second-tier programmes anywhere in the world could rival.

For Schmidt, it represents one more chapter in what has been a remarkable, if unconventional, relationship with Australian rugby. For Larkham, it is another step in a coaching trajectory that appears destined, sooner or later, for the very top of the game.