The five men who could lead the Wallabies against the British & Irish Lions

When Australia announce a 40-man squad for the Fiji Test, there is unlikely to be a captain appointed. So who could lead the Wallabies against the touring Lions? Here are the contenders.

When the Wallabies announce their 40-man squad for the Fiji Test on Thursday, there will be no captain on the list.

The skipper will be announced when the official 23-man team for the game is announced on Thursday, July 3, two days before the clash at Newcastle.

The captaincy issue is one of several unresolved matters for the Wallabies.

The touring British & Irish Lions named their captain, Maro Itoje, on May 8. Their players – certainly the non-English who haven’t yet played under him – will have had nearly 10 weeks of preparation following Itoje’s lead at training and meetings.

The Wallabies’ incumbent captain, Harry Wilson, has strong claims to retain the leadership for the series.

Harry Wilson has strong claims to captain the Wallabies against the Lions. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images

British and Irish Lions’ captain Maro Itoje training for the upcoming tour. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images

But there is a belief that Langi Gleeson has outplayed him this year and could be a strong contender for the No. 8 jersey.

You can’t have a captain sitting on the bench, and so speculation is rife that a new captain will emerge for the Lions series.

Here is a look at the key contenders:

1. Harry Wilson

It would be a shock if Wilson is not captain of Australia for the opening Test against the Lions. There are a number of reasons he is likely to retain the job, chiefly because Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt was so pleased with the gains his side made on last year’s spring tour under Wilson’s guidance.

Harry Wilson looks on after being defeated during The Rugby Championship by South Africa in 2024. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

The Wallabies had a poor run of form throughout 2024, but then defeated England in the famous post-siren win at Twickenham, beat Wales comfortably, and went within a whisker of knocking over Ireland in Dublin. The team found fortitude and tactical solutions that will be crucial against the Lions, all under Wilson’s captaincy. But the fact a captain won’t be named in the first squad of the year indicates that it is not a guarantee.

Few, if any, Test nations announce squads without naming a skipper. So much like who will play in key positions like the second row, halves and midfield, the Wallabies brains trust have not settled on a clear leader. If Wilson starts, he’ll captain.

But if they believe Gleeson is a better No. 8 option, it throws open the leadership. While Gleeson has had a standout season, Wilson offers more versatility as a genuine lineout option.

Langi Gleeson could force Wilson out of the starting side for the Wallabies. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images)

2. Allan Alaalatoa

The Brumbies skipper looms as the most likely replacement if Wilson does get dropped. Alaalatoa commands the respect of his fellow peers, and is playing career-best rugby. While he has been previously overlooked due to his battle for the tight-head jersey with Taniela Tupou, this year the two could not have had more contrasting form. Tupou struggled with consistency and mental pressure during the Super Rugby season, while Alaalatoa was a rock in the Brumbies pack.

Allan Alaalatoa looms as the most likely replacement for Wilson Picture: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

The scrums will be a major factor in the Lions series, and having a prop being able to converse with referees and sway their perception could be crucial. The Wallabies coaching staff could opt to start Tupou for early impact and then bring on Alaalatoa from the bench for stability as they’ve previously done, but based on the evidence this year and the potential for Tupou to become a liability, it’s highly unlikely.

3. Jake Gordon

The Waratahs halfback has been the subject of strong speculation recently that he will captain Australia for the Lions series. It’s possible, but not a bet you’d be putting your life savings on.

Waratahs' Jake Gordon is a contender. Picture: Saeed Khan/ AFP

Gordon is edging Tate McDermott, Nic White and Ryan Lonergan as the preferred starting halfback, and one of only a few Wallabies who looks a likely starter in the first Test if fit.

But he had a mixed Super Rugby season battling injuries and the team’s poor performances, and it’s unlikely he’d usurp Wilson and Alaalatoa in the pecking order unless they are injured or both benched.

4. Will Skelton

A left-field option would be Skelton, given he had the honours of leading the Wallabies at their last major event, the 2023 World Cup. The giant lock is expected to be picked in the Australian squad for this Lions series, and has a natural “lead by example” style.

A left-field option would be Will Skelton. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

He would be one of the players the Lions fear most. But because he hasn’t been a regular squad member of the past two years, it would take an almighty injury toll for the big man to be handed back the captain’s armband.

5. Fraser McReight

Queensland’s Fraser McReight looks like a certain starter, which brings him into contention. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The superstar backrower is one of the few players that looks like a certain starter in the Wallabies line-up, along with Angus Bell, Rob Valetini, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Len Ikitau.

While McReight holds a leadership position within the squad, he is an outside choice for the Lions tour captaincy.

The former Junior Wallabies skipper is seen as a skipper of Australia in future, and depending on how this tour unfolds and who is left standing, he may be given an early taste.

Originally published as The five men who could lead the Wallabies against the British & Irish Lions