Ex-NRL star called in as Tom Lynagh ruled out of Australia A tour

Former NRL star Zac Lomax and Wallabies prospect Harry McLaughlin-Phillips have been called into the Australia A squad ahead of a trip to the USA, with Queensland Reds fly-half Tom Lynagh a late withdrawal due to injury.

Lynagh was named in the initial 27-man squad last week, which included a dozen Wallabies, but the playmaker has since been ruled out of the two-match tour. Australia A will face the USA Eagles in Nashville on October 24 and New Jersey on October 30.

The 23-year-old was Australia’s starting fly-half in the three Lions Series Tests last year, and also suited up against Argentina on September 6, 2025. But the Queensland Reds pivot played just 18 minutes throughout Super Rugby Pacific, before featuring more in Super Rugby AUS.

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Australia A are set to jet off to Nashville over the weekend, but Lomax and ‘HMP’ will instead make the long-haul trip with the squad. Lomax officially switched over from rugby league on March 8, signing a two-year deal with the Western Force and Rugby Australia.

Lomax started in six of seven appearances for the Force during Super Rugby Pacific, including try-scoring efforts against the Crusaders and Fijian Drua in Perth. The former NRL back finished that campaign with a couple of 80-minute performances.

The 27-year-old is now set to experience representative rugby union for the first time, joined by fellow Force Super Rugby AUS squad member McLaughlin-Phillips. HMP moved out west from the Reds ahead of the tournament, helping the Force take out the title earlier this month.

McLaughlin-Phillips impressed for the Les Kiss-coached Reds side during Super Rugby Pacific and helped Wests Bulldogs reach the Hospital Cup Grand Final in Queensland Premier Rugby, which led to other opportunities.

Kiss called McLaughlin-Phillips into the Wallabies ahead of the 42-38 win over the Springboks in Perth and retained the uncapped playmaker in the squad for the Bledisloe Cup series, which got underway last weekend in Auckland.

Zane Nonggorr and Kalani Thomas are other current Wallabies squad members who are set to feature for Australia A, with an opportunity to get more game time. There are 11 capped Wallabies in the group, who will be captained by Matt Faessler.

“It’s pleasing to pull together such a strong group of players for what will be a testing Tour against genuine international opposition,” Australia A coach Stephen Larkham said.

“A lot of the players selected have performed well across Super Rugby AUS and to have a number of Wallabies in the mix shows the depth that is being created across the Australian Rugby system.”

Australia A squad for the USA

Forwards (16)

Miles Amatosero (NSW Waratahs) Joe Brial (Queensland Reds) Ethan Dobbins (NSW Waratahs) Eamon Doyle (NSW Waratahs) Matt Faessler (c) (Queensland Reds) Nick Frost (ACT Brumbies) Will Harris (Western Force) Lington Ieli (ACT Brumbies) Tom Lambert (Queensland Reds) Lachlan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies) Toby Macpherson (ACT Brumbies) Zane Nonggorr (Queensland Reds) Luke Reimer (NSW Waratahs) Tom Robertson (Western Force) Rory Scott (ACT Brumbies) Rhys van Nek (ACT Brumbies)

Backs (12)

Lachie Anderson (Queensland Reds) Tane Edmed (ACT Brumbies) David Feliuai (ACT Brumbies) Mac Grealy (Western Force) Nathan Hastie (Western Force) Dylan Pietsch (Western Force) Kadin Pritchard (ACT Brumbies) Tim Ryan (Queensland Reds) Kalani Thomas (Queensland Reds) Corey Toole (ACT Brumbies) Zac Lomax (Western Force) Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Western Force)