Rugby Union

Action stations for Wright, Lomax but Cale misses out

Apr 15, 2026

Tom Wright celebrates — Tom Wright will play his first Super Rugby Pacific game of the season in the Brumbies' No.1 jersey. -AAP Image

Tom Wright has been called up for his first Super Rugby Pacific game since tearing his ACL last year, as he looks to re-establish himself as the Wallabies' first-choice fullback.

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But the ACT Brumbies will miss star back-rower Charlie Cale after he sustained a shoulder injury.

Wright will line up in the No.1 jersey for the Brumbies against Fijian Drua on Saturday, with coach Stephen Larkham believing he will play a full 80 minutes.

It comes after Wright injured his knee against South Africa in August, but he has had a quicker-than-expected recovery, training with Canberra for the past month.

"He's been looking exceptionally good … it's a tough challenge for him coming back after so long out and starting," Larkham said on Wednesday.

"Everything was ticked off a long time ago, and the final point was making sure he is good to go in his own head.

"He adds a lot of leadership when the ball is in play, in the huddles and around the meeting space. It gives a lot of confidence to the players around him."

Wright moving to fullback sees Andy Muirhead shift to the bench, while Tuaina Taii Tualima slips into the No.8 jersey as Cale remains on ice.

Wallabies prospect Cale left the field against the Highlanders last Friday, and later complained of shoulder soreness before undertaking scans.

"We've been all over the place in terms of what the scan means," Larkham said.

"We're not sure how bad he is at the moment. There is a little bit of damage to the shoulder. He's not right to go this weekend."

Larkham has also moved Luke Reimer into the back row in place of Rory Scott after he scored the winning try in their 14-10 win last round.

Elsewhere, Zac Lomax will make his starting debut for the Western Force against the Crusaders after a 20-minute stint in his first professional rugby union game last Saturday.

He will start on the right wing and will be joined by prop Tom Robertson (head), lock Darcy Swain (illness) and flanker Carlo Tizzano (knee), who return after missing last round.

But winger Darby Lancaster has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing a medial ligament in his ankle.

Back-rower Angus Scott-Young has been named in the Waratahs' starting line-up for the first time ahead of their clash against Moana Pasifika on Friday.

Lawson Creighton (joint injury) returns to the starting line-up alongside scrum-half Jake Gordon as they prepare to dazzle Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Sydney.

The Queensland Reds are on a bye, but playmaker Carter Gordon's availability for the next round is clouded after he injured his right knee against the Crusaders last Saturday.

Queensland will consult specialists after completing initial scans.