In-demand Wallaby Tom Wright centre of 3-way tug-of-war

Wallabies full-back Tom Wright is at the centre of a three-way tug-of-war between Rugby Australia, Top 14 big spenders, Montpellier, and an unnamed Japanese club.

Wright, 27, who can play full-back, wing and inside centre, has scored ten tries in 37 appearances for his country, including a hat-trick against Wales in November, and he is tipped to start against the Lions this summer.

He was linked earlier this year with a potential move to the Premiership, with Saracens, Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester touted as possible suitors for his services when his Rugby Australia deal runs out at the end of the season.

Boks Office: Does Duhan make the Boks starting XV? | RPTV

WATCH as former Springbok coach Nick Mallett compares Duhan van der Merwe with the current Springbok wings. Watch the full show now on RugbyPass TV.

Watch now

Boks Office: Does Duhan make the Boks starting XV? | RPTV

WATCH as former Springbok coach Nick Mallett compares Duhan van der Merwe with the current Springbok wings. Watch the full show now on RugbyPass TV.

Watch now

When the Wallabies managed to retain Wright’s services two years ago, former coach Eddie Jones, who is now in charge of Japan, hailed him as the best full-back in the world and then left him at home for the 2023 World Cup.

But it now seems that Wright, who switched codes from the NRL in 2019 after leaving the Manly Sea Eagles, is ready to move on once again, either to France or to Japan, where the financial rewards are much better.

He is expected to hold off another cross-code convert, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who has been playing full-back for the NSW Waratahs with great success this season when Andy Farrell and friends travel Down Under.

Wright’s resurgence is down to him changing how he trains and then reflects after training instead of just looking at highlight moments, as he told ESPN earlier this year.

“I’ve made sure I’m not just focusing on the highlight reel moments; it’s the moments in-between as well. That’s how I reflect on my game and how I review after training.”

“I sometimes wasn’t training as hard as I could have and was maybe focusing on the wrong things, but now I’m making sure to really review what I’m doing, be more accurate in all areas of my game, just be more mindful.”

“I want to create that eyes-on pressure and still want to provide that spark, but I also want to build my connections and get the little moments right.”

“It’s not about being perfect or perfecting those moments; it’s about making the little moments count,” he said.