Brumbies young gun Tom Wright sends reminder to Rugby Australia he’s ready for the next step

If Rugby Australia can afford to throw the cash at a 16-year-old schoolboy, it should find enough change to re-sign winger Tom Wright, who was the star in the Brumbies’ thumping win over the Force.

Tom Wright in action against the Force. Picture: Getty Images

If Australian rugby is fair dinkum about wanting to keep the most talented youngsters from heading to NRL then the bean counters should get the cheque book out right away and re-sign Tom Wright.

The Brumbies winger has been in devastating form during Super Rugby AU and was at it again at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday, scoring a spectacular try and setting up another for Irae Simone in the 24-0 thumping of Western Force.

Will Miller and Connal McInerny both scored in the second half as the unbeaten Brumbies moved to the head of the table while leaving the Force still chasing their first win since rejoining Super Rugby.

The 22-year-old Wright’s been turning heads all season and on current form, he must be included in Dave Rennie’s Wallaby squad for the end of year Tests and offered a new deal to keep him in rugby.

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Signed by the Sea Eagles when he was still in high school, Wright switched codes at the of 2018 after five NRL appearances, but hasn’t been given an extension because of the ongoing uncertainty about the financial state of rugby, though the offers to schoolboy sensation Joseph Suaalii suggests the bank balance isn’t in the red yet.

His eye catching performances for the Brumbies have again caught the attention of teams in the NRL, where he played five-eighth, but Wright says he wants to stay in union and has his sights set on playing for the Wallabies.

Brumbies winger Tom Wright is turning heads. Picture: Getty Images

“I really want to stay in Australian rugby for many years,” he told Fox Sports this week.

“Obviously with all the uncertainty around at the moment it’s obviously been up in the air … but I think there’s a lot of good things going on at the moment in our game that a lot of people don’t mention.

“At the top of the list, obviously is that gold jersey but before that comes winning the comp’ so I’m working on the areas to ideally get that jersey and earn my place in the team one day.

“I want the game to get back to where it was when I was growing up and as a player I want to be part of the change to people’s perception.”

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Originally published as Brumbies young gun Tom Wright sends reminder to Rugby Australia he’s ready for the next step