Australian rugby has received a huge boost ahead of the World Cup, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto to return Down Under less than 12 months after leaving for Northampton in the English Premiership.
The Roar can reveal that the 2019 World Cup Wallaby agreed to terms with the Rebels on Monday.
He’s not the only Australian in England who is set to return home either, with Leicester Tigers Premiership winner Harry Potter to join Simon Cron at the Western Force.
Both men have spoken with Wallabies coach Eddie Jones over the past 12 months.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has signed with the Rebels and could rocket back into the World Cup mix. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Potter, 25, had a rapid rise at the Tigers and the outside back, who has also featured at outside centre, came close to earning a call-up to England under Jones last year.
Salakaia-Loto, meanwhile, had some brief communication with Jones at the start of the year.
His return could see him rocket into the Wallabies’ World Cup mix, with Salakaia-Loto sharing many of the same characteristics of Courtney Lawes – the blindside/lock who captained England on their 2-1 series victory Down Under last July.
He left the Reds last year after falling out of favour at the club.
But the 198cm, 123kg forward, who can play in the second-row and at blindside flanker, is someone with immense potential.
Sam Whitelock of the All Blacks competes with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto of the Wallabies during the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
While he’s played 30 Tests, Salakaia-Loto’s ceiling is far greater than the output that he’s delivered on the field.
During the 2019 World Cup, the forward featured in all five matches, including the Wallabies’ quarter-final loss to Jones’ England.
Someone with immense power and prowess at the lineout, he’s the bruising type of forward that Jones could well turn to.
Salakaia-Loto never shut the door on a Wallabies return.
Even last year, having been left out by Brad Thorn’s Reds, the forward said he would try and push his credentials from England.
“It’s definitely not over at 30 Tests. I want to be able to build a case for 31 and if that is from England that’s what I’m going to do,” he said.
Steve Borthwick, (L) the Leicester Tigers director of rugby, celebrates with Harry Potter after their Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final win over Saracens at Twickenham Stadium on June 18, 2022 in London. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Now, having put pen to paper with the Rebels, he is significantly closer to a Wallabies recall than he would have been had he stayed at the Saints.
Just like Kane Douglas, who signed with the Reds for 2016 to make him eligible to play for the Wallabies for the 2015 World Cup campaign, he is eligible immediately to be called up by Jones.
His return comes at the perfect time, with Wallabies lock Matt Philip set to join rising Japanese powerhouse Cannon Eagles and Trevor Hosea heading to Suntory Sungoliath.
Suntory, who have Jones as a consultant, threw bucket loads of cash in Hosea’s direction. In the end, it was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Philip, meanwhile, remains eligible for the Wallabies this year and returned to action last weekend against the Highlanders.
While their departures are blows, it freed up room in the salary cap to bring home Salakaia-Loto – the 26-year-old who is coming into the prime of his career.
What’s more, his arrival is aligned to the Rebels’ cohesion desire, having spent years playing with incoming Wallabies star Taniela Tupou as well as Alex Mafi at the Reds.
With Rob Leota edging closer to a return, the Rebels’ pack will be one of Australian rugby’s best.
Potter, meanwhile, is a quality finisher, who was a prolific try-scorer at the Tigers.
He will add to the depth of the Force side, who have been the most active Australian Super Rugby side under Cron this season.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
A one off boost during a RWC followed by a drop for 3 years? Because that's what happens with SA and Argentina. There's no other way to prepare other than to accept that your team will have substandard preparation compared to most of your competitors. Are these players dropping in vital to our success? Or are you judging how they perform in a team environment (or even club level) and extrapolating that? Skelton's performances for the Wallabies in 2022 are not vital to our success. Him performing in 2023 club form may be. But that's a long bow to draw if you expect its possible.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
It's a real shame
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I agree the issue around preparation needs looking at, and it would definitely take an adjustment in the way the squad was prepared as well as the way the Wallabies coaching staff operate in general during the year. But SA and even Argentina are examples of how an open market can work imo. No matter how hard we try, we’ll continue to lose players to the bigger salaries overseas – a Wallabies jumper just isn’t enough of an incentive anymore – and inevitably guys will end up playing for other countries if we don’t select them. Players like Koroibete, QC, Kerevi and Skelton are now vital to our chances and have improved since being overseas, we’d be hamstringing ourselves if we didn’t look at who else is out there, especially established test match players that are leaving like Phillip.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Good call. He’s been very good at Saints. I was annoyed that he left. NSW Rugby had brought that young guy through to a pro squad, funded him whilst he mostly sat on the sideline injured and his payback was buggering off to UK when the first opportunity arose. Everybody needs to make the right decisions for themselves but I felt like the relationship between him and the game locally was very much one way.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
James Ramm?
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Let's hope that he goes better than Musk's rocket.
Big A
Roar Rookie
so many options in the back row and locks - i cant remember the last time we were so well stocked - if we can somehow get the Thor and Bell right then we will definitely be better than 7th in the world - more like top 3 i reckon. If you were the opposition you'd hate to come up against that pack and then throw in Quade, Kerevi, Koribete, Ikitau and the handfull of other backs and i can see light at the end of the tunnel.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Gleeson at 7 for a half...that's a big pack!!
Big A
Roar Rookie
i would love to see a monster pack comprising Taniela – BPA – Bell in the front row – Skelton and Arnold locks and Frost – Valentini and Wilkin in the backrow with Jed on the Bench with Samu to come and mix things up later
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Philip is a real weird one. Why would he not stick around until the Lions? He’s sure to be in the squad then…
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Agreed and with Eddie liking locks in blindside flanker plenty of locks will be picked and barring too many injuries have plenty..
Wizz
Roar Rookie
John I thought same with Coleman playing him at lock but form lock Super Rugby.Great for Tahs.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
With all the attention above on Salakaia-Loto I was thinking people had missed the significance of a good 13 coming. A number of observers have noted that 13 is the one backline position where the Wallabies don’t have a convincing back-up (to Ikitau).
RahRah
Roar Rookie
A positive for the Rebels. I hope they allow him to settle into 1 position and make it his own. I would love to see the Rebels continue the improvement shown this year. Force v Rebels grand final (well between Aus teams at least) now wouldn’t that be something.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
France and Japan are both recruiting players out of high school. There’s 18 year old Aussies and Kiwis usually with some PI heritage getting tapped up. France has to as their new rule you have played academy rugby in France to one day be eligible for France
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Agree, would have preferred him to go France or even URC which is a lot better with the Saffas now. TBF if he’s been offered say 500k a year and is on 150-200k at Rebels. I can see why he might go there for 2 years.
Hahaha classic film!
To be fair to Holloway, he’s only 3cm shorter than AWJ.
Wolla Wotsa
Roar Rookie
Eddie wont play Skelton. He wants to win the World cup rememberrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Wolla Wotsa
Roar Rookie
The Horratahs have all the tweeners, but no Test locks.