Star fullback turns down NRL, overseas clubs to re-sign with Wallabies

Wallabies star Tom Wright says returning to the NRL, or pursuing contract offers overseas, were never seriously considered as options after the in-form fullback re-committed to Australian rugby for another three years.

Wright said the desire to stay at home in Canberra with his young family, and be a part of success on the horizon with the Wallabies and the Brumbies, were the motivating factors behind his decision to extend with RA and the ACT until the end of 2028.

As a former Manly Sea Eagle, the 27-year-old was named in some media reports as a potential target for rugby league clubs, with the NRL now on the lookout for talent to fill for the extra spots created by its imminent expansion into Perth and Papua New Guinea.

Wright was also linked with overseas clubs in Japan and France. But while the 37-cap Wallaby conceded there were chances for him to explore in league and offshore, his first choice had always been to strike a new deal to stay in rugby.

“I’d be lying to you if I said there wasn’t options available to take a look at. But my home is where my heart lies,” Wright said.

“When those options abroad are put on the table, you obviously have to look at them and respect them for what they are. And it’s always nice to be wanted in more than one place.

Tom Wright had a superb Spring Tour for the Wallabies at the end of 2024.Credit: Getty Images

“But [I am] very family orientated. Also, I want to repay the faith that Rugby Australia and the Brumbies in particular have had in me for a number of seasons.

“The option that I considered the most heavily was the one that I ended up going with … the ability for us to get the deal done was probably the thing that I was chasing the hardest.”

Wright joked he was happy for Brumbies teammate Billy Pollard to now take the mantle as a potential Wallaby code-switcher, after the former North Sydney Bear was identified as a potential recruit for Perth.

“I saw Billy Pollard was getting talked about to go [to the Bears]. He’s now hot on the list for going over there. And he’s going to love that, too,” Wright said.

“I feel really secure knowing that I know what I’m doing for three more seasons, and particularly having a family now.

Tom Wright making a break for the Brumbies against NSW.Credit: Getty Images

“But also there are so many things on the horizon, right? The Lions obviously have been not too far away. And I’m still chasing an elusive Super Rugby title that I’ve been down at the Brumbies now for a few seasons trying to chase. And each year, even this year, we’re right up there.

“[It’s] feeling like the kettle’s boiling, and that was a massive factor for me. And the 2027 World Cup feels like it’s far away, but it’s not. So a couple of things enticing me to stay long term, for sure.”

Wright said the uncertainty about the Wallabies coach at the start of the year wasn’t a huge factor in his deliberations, but he was pleasantly surprised when Joe Schmidt agreed to extend through to next year as part of a transition to his successor, Les Kiss.

“Seeing that Joe was able to extend his stay, it was a surprise with a huge smile on my face,” Wright said.

“Knowing the reasons that he was stepping away were absolutely respected. But I know that he’s got the best out of me in his short time with me.

“So for me to be able to soak up more of his knowledge, more of his coaching prowess, and ideally chase more improvement in my game … is something that I’ll be pretty pumped to do, fingers crossed.”

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