Dumped Wallaby Langi Gleeson hasn’t given up on Lions dream after Schmidt snubbing

Langi Gleeson was invited to be part of the Wallabies training camp – as he pushed towards a call-up against the British and Irish Lions. And then it was brutally snatched away from him.

Langi Gleeson has opened up on his controversial snubbing from the Wallabies training camp. Picture: Getty

Langi Gleeson is adamant his British & Irish Lions dream is not over following his controversial snubbing from the Wallabies’ training camp earlier this year.

The 23-year-old backrower was initially invited to train with the national squad, having been part of the side throughout the 2024 season, but when it emerged he was on the verge of signing with French club Montpellier after this season, he was uninvited from camp.

At the time, he was told that only players who were committed to Australian rugby were being considered.

The NSW Waratahs powerhouse, who will be crucial to the rebuild of the club this season, revealed that he’d had a meeting with Joe Schmidt following the camp, after the Wallabies coach had told not him not to attend the January camp.

“I told him that this could potentially be my last year, and then I sort of get why he did that,” Gleeson said.

Langi Gleeson (R) during a practice session with the Wallabies last year. Picture: Getty

“But I sat with him after the camp just to go through improvements from last year and what he wants to see this year.

“I mean, if I play good enough, then they have to pick me. So that’s the sort of mindset, that I’m going to go as hard as I can this year and see how it goes. Will I get picked or not? I’ll just put my body in the line for the boys.”

The Lions series only comes around once every 12 years, so this would likely be Gleeson’s only chance to feature in the iconic series that begins in July.

“It’s definitely still there, it’s good Joe still sat through with me to work on it and yeah, I think I’m definitely still available,” Gleeson said.

Waratahs' Langi Gleeson on the burst against the Hurricanes. Picture: AFP

“It just depends on the performance that I put in Super this year, and the other boys as well.

“(The training camp snub) didn’t seem like a forceful thing, (Schmidt) was very calm about it. And I sort of understood why.

“I had a dream of playing for the Wallabies when I was a kid, even in Fiji. So every time I step on the field, I’ve got uncles in Europe, watching all over, the family in Fiji, family in Australia, so it’s very big for me.

“And being one of the few players in the family that’s playing professionally, I feel like the family’s very proud of me. It’s something like a motivation to play.”

Gleeson would not confirm is he has indeed signed with Montpellier, but this masthead understands it’s a done deal for two years. However, that would also allow Gleeson to return for the home 2027 World Cup if he opts to sign with a Super club for 2028, under a precedent set by fellow Wallabies Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Nic White in previous years.

Gleeson is set to form a dynamic Tahs backrow this year alongside new recruit Rob Leota, and openside flanker Charlie Gamble.

Departing Australia head coach Joe Schmidt. Picture: Getty

NSW host the Highlanders in their opening Super Rugby Pacific game on Friday night at Allianz Stadium, and both Schmidt and new Tahs coach Dan McKellar want him to bring consistent physicality to the pack.

“With Joe, it’s sustaining the physicality throughout the game, even in training,” Gleeson said.

“All the one-percenters, like if you’re not looking up in a ruck, then he’s going to pull you in front of the boys.

“I’m a power athlete, but it’s an 80-minute game. You can’t just do it for 10 minutes. So I think just sustaining that. And McKeller, he’s sort of the same. He really prides the forward pack on just being brutal and just being a physical pack. On the defensive side as well.

“So it’s good to learn from both of them.”

Originally published as Dumped Wallaby Langi Gleeson hasn’t given up on Lions dream after Schmidt snubbing