The ACT Brumbies are locked in a high-stakes battle to secure the signature of former NRL star Zac Lomax, with a decision on his playing future expected to be made before Christmas.
Two-horse race for Lomax's signature
The Western Force have reportedly tabled a substantial two-year offer worth $900,000 to lure the versatile back to Perth. However, the Brumbies, Australia's most successful Super Rugby franchise, remain hopeful they can convince Lomax to move to Canberra instead.
Brumbies high performance general manager Cam Treloar confirmed the urgency of the situation, stating that any move to an Australian club must happen quickly. "Given everyone's first trial is at the end of January, if [Lomax] is going to end up in Australia, it's going to have to be quite quick," Treloar said. He added that the matter would be resolved one way or another before the festive period.
Olympian Porch waits in the wings
While the Lomax saga unfolds, former Australian sevens Olympian John Porch has been training with the Brumbies squad. Porch, who represented Australia at the Rio Olympic Games and played for Irish province Connacht, is being considered as an option to bolster the club's outside back stocks.
The Brumbies have a pressing need for backline reinforcements following a serious knee injury to Wallabies flyer Tom Wright. Wright suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear that will see him miss the bulk of the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season.
Brumbies prop Rhys van Nek praised the club's depth and highlighted Porch's impact. "We've also got experience like 'Porchy' coming in, he's added a lot to the group, just an older head, and just that calm voice out back," van Nek said.
Brumbies face heavy travel to start 2026 season
The club's preparations are being complicated by a heavy travel schedule and a Wallabies pre-season camp. Eight Brumbies players are among a 40-man Wallabies squad set to assemble in Sydney on January 5 for a camp under coach Joe Schmidt.
The contingent includes Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Billy Pollard, Rob Valetini, Tane Edmed, Ryan Lonergan, Corey Toole, and the injured Tom Wright. These players are not expected back at Brumbies pre-season training until at least January 8, leaving them with little more than a month to prepare for the season opener.
The Brumbies will kick off their pre-season with a trial against the Western Force in Perth on January 30, followed by a second trial against the NSW Waratahs in Canberra on February 5. Their competitive season begins with a round one clash against the Force in Perth on February 14, before a daunting trip to Christchurch to face the Crusaders in round two.
This taxing start could see several of the Brumbies' top players managed carefully, potentially opening the door for new recruits or squad players to make an early-season statement.
