Former NRL star Zac Lomax has signed a two-year deal with the Western Force and Rugby Australia, effective immediately, as he pursues his ambition of representing the Wallabies at the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil.
Key points:
- Zac Lomax signs two-year deal with Western Force and Rugby Australia, effective immediately
- The 26-year-old could debut against Chiefs on 28 March after Force’s bye week
- Lomax returns to rugby union after 11 years, last playing the sport at age 15
- Deal worth approximately A$400,000 per season, roughly half his Parramatta contract
- Becomes fourth high-profile NRL player to switch codes ahead of 2027 World Cup
- Played 133 NRL games, represented NSW in State of Origin and Australia at Test level
The 26-year-old outside back becomes the fourth high-profile rugby league player to commit to the 15-man game ahead of Australia’s hosting of the global tournament, following Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Angus Crichton in making the code switch.
Lomax, who represented New South Wales in State of Origin and Australia at Test level during 133 NRL appearances, will join the Force in Perth this week and could make his Super Rugby Pacific debut against the Chiefs on 28 March following the team’s bye week.
The Temora-born flyer returns to rugby union after playing the sport at junior representative level for NSW until age 15, before embarking on a successful rugby league career with St George Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels that included State of Origin selection in 2024 and three Kangaroos Test caps.
“I’m incredibly excited and thankful to be joining the Western Force after reaching an agreement with Rugby Australia to make the switch to rugby union,” Lomax said in a statement released by Rugby Australia. “This is a huge opportunity and a challenge I’m really looking forward to embracing. Stepping into a new code will push me as a player and that’s something that genuinely motivates me.”
The signing comes after a tumultuous period for Lomax, who was released by Parramatta in November to pursue opportunities with the now-delayed rebel R360 competition. When that competition postponed its launch until 2028, Lomax found himself in limbo, with the Eels blocking his proposed transfer to Melbourne Storm in the NSW Supreme Court last week.
However, at Tuesday’s press conference in Sydney, Lomax insisted he had no regrets about his career decisions and was focused solely on the challenge ahead in Perth.
“It’s me that’s made the decisions and it’s me that has the consequences,” Lomax told reporters at Rugby Australia headquarters. “I’ve been so thankful and grateful for everything that rugby league has given me, but this is the future and I’m leaving at the peak of my career in rugby league terms. That motivates me to start building the game from the ground up as a player.”
Lomax was candid about the scale of the challenge facing him, having last played rugby union more than a decade ago. “I know it’s a mountain that I’m at the bottom of and I really want to climb and become the best rugby union player that I possibly can,” he said. “Realistically, there’s so much that I need to learn. I’m a novice to the game.”
Force head coach Simon Cron expressed confidence in Lomax’s ability to adapt quickly to the demands of Super Rugby Pacific. “Zac and Kayla came to Perth late last year and we spent some time together talking about the Force and how we want to play,” Cron said. “He has remained in contact during the process and has always been extremely enthusiastic about the opportunity of joining the players who have chosen Perth as their home.”
Lomax revealed that Wallabies prop Angus Bell played a crucial role in his decision to switch codes. “I’m really close mates with Angus Bell, actually. I’ve been in real close contact with him throughout the whole process,” Lomax explained. “We’re managed by the same people, and he’s a real good friend of mine, so he was a big factor as to what I wanted to go over to. Their take on the game is always really good, and they love how rugby union is run along with the travel.”
Bell has emerged as something of a league whisperer, having previously guided Suaalii’s transition to rugby union after the pair played school football together before the former Rooster joined the Waratahs.
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh welcomed the acquisition as part of the organisation’s strategic preparation for the 2027 World Cup. “Zac is a superb athlete with a proven track record at representative level in rugby league and we believe he has the talent and drive to make a successful transition to rugby,” Waugh stated. “We have entered an incredibly exciting period for Australian Rugby and Zac now has the opportunity to make a strong impression in Super Rugby Pacific and push for higher honours as we approach a home Rugby World Cup in 2027.”
Waugh also issued a rallying cry to fans of Australia’s other football codes, urging them to get behind the Wallabies’ World Cup campaign. “I’ve often said, we want to get the whole country behind rugby in this country as we go forward to the World Cup,” Waugh told reporters. “If you follow AFL, NRL, we want everyone behind the Wallabies as we go through to 2027.”
The signing has been framed by Rugby Australia as a disciplined financial decision rather than a desperate spending spree. “We’ve been really disciplined right across the organisation for a number of years now to ensure that the game’s financially sustainable,” Waugh explained. “As we look at our overall cost envelope, we need to ensure that we’re disciplined in how we spend that.”
Lomax’s deal, reported to be worth approximately A$400,000 per season, represents roughly half the value of his Parramatta contract but provides him with the opportunity to compete on rugby’s global stage.
Rugby Australia Director of High Performance Peter Horne emphasised the strategic importance of building depth across Australian rugby ahead of the World Cup. “Building depth across Australian Rugby has been a priority as we build towards next year’s home Rugby World Cup and the addition of Zac is a positive development for our system,” Horne said. “Zac is embracing the challenge of playing a new code, albeit one he has played before at a junior level, and the opportunity to take his talents to a worldwide audience.”
At 190 centimetres and 105 kilograms, Lomax brings considerable physical attributes to the Force backline. Western Force coach Cron indicated the powerful runner would initially be deployed at fullback or on the wing, though his versatility could see him feature across the back three.
Lomax addressed criticism from rugby league circles regarding his comment that rugby union is a “truly global sport”, insisting it was not intended as a slight against his former code. “Comments can be taken many different ways, but for me, it’s the reality that rugby is a truly global sport,” he explained. “It’s played in more than 100 different countries, and that’s something that absolutely attracts me as a player. The travel that they do around the world – everyone that I speak to in regards to rugby and playing for the Wallabies, that’s the first thing that makes their eyes light up.”
Beyond his try-scoring ability and powerful running game, Lomax offers valuable goal-kicking prowess, maintaining a 78 per cent accuracy rate throughout his NRL career. This skill could prove invaluable for both the Force and potentially the Wallabies, who ranked ninth among tier-one nations for try conversions in 2025 with just 72.9 per cent success.
Lomax joins a Western Force squad that includes former All Black George Bridge and 95-Test Wallaby Kurtley Beale as the Perth-based franchise continues building towards finals contention in Super Rugby Pacific.
The code-hopper acknowledged the significant learning curve ahead but expressed enthusiasm about the growth opportunity. “I know I’ve got a lot to learn, and that’s something that truly excites me, the growth in rugby union player that I could potentially become,” Lomax said. “I’ve put all my faith in Crony and the team over there at Western Force and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
For Lomax, the ultimate goal remains clear: representing Australia at the 2027 Rugby World Cup and potentially becoming a dual international. “Anyone who plays rugby union would be lying to you if they told you they didn’t want to play for their country. That’s your highest honour,” he stated. “For me, a home World Cup is massive. Hopefully to one day be a dual international is something that I would absolutely be proud of.”
The Wallabies, under new coach Les Kiss following Joe Schmidt’s departure, face a significant challenge to transform their fortunes ahead of the World Cup. After a promising start to 2025 that included series victories over the British and Irish Lions and a historic win over South Africa at Ellis Park, Australia lost seven of their final eight Tests, including a winless tour of Europe.
Lomax will compete for selection in a crowded Wallabies back three that includes the electrifying Max Jorgensen, returning star Nawaqanitawase, Dylan Pietsch and the brilliant Tom Wright, whose ACL injury robbed Australia of their most potent attacking weapon during last year’s autumn internationals.
The Wallabies will host Ireland, France and Italy in July as part of the Nations Championship before travelling to face England, Scotland and Wales in November, providing Lomax with ample opportunity to stake his claim for World Cup selection.
With Suaalii thriving in the centres, Crichton set to arrive at the Waratahs in 2027, Nawaqanitawase returning from Japan, and now Lomax joining the Force immediately, Rugby Australia’s strategy of targeting rugby league players with union backgrounds appears designed to replicate the success of the 2003 World Cup team, which featured a back three of league converts in Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor.
As Lomax prepares to fly to Perth this week, Western Force supporters will eagerly anticipate his arrival, hopeful that the powerful runner’s athleticism, goal-kicking prowess and fierce competitiveness can help drive their team towards finals football whilst simultaneously positioning himself for Wallabies selection in what shapes as a defining period for Australian rugby.
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