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Ireland line up Massimo De Lutiis for shock allegiance switch - report

Massimo De Lutiis of the Reds looks on ahead of the round 11 Super Rugby Pacific match between Queensland Reds and Blues at Suncorp Stadium, on April 25, 2025, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
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Ireland are weighing up a move for Irish-qualified Queensland Reds tighthead Massimo De Lutiis, with a report in Australia claiming the IRFU have stepped up their interest in the 22-year-old.

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The story was first broken over the weekend by Code Sport’s Jamie Pandaram, who revealed that Irish Rugby have been monitoring the uncapped Australia A prop who has been branded in some quarters as “Australia’s strongest footballer” after he benched over 200kg in 2024.

De Lutiis, who stands 6’2 and tips the scales at 126kg,  has spent time in Wallabies camps under Joe Schmidt, qualifies for Ireland through family heritage. In fact, he was so well regarded in Aussie rugby circles that he was invited to train with the Wallabies prior to making his Super Rugby Pacific debut.

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Ireland’s propping stocks have been under immense strain of late, with a raft of injuries forcing Andy Farrell to play musical chairs with his front row over the Six Nations. The IRFU are understandably keen to add another prop card into the deck of the Irish system.

Multiple reports in Australia state that the interest is genuine and accelerating.

De Lutiis has only made limited appearances for the Reds, but his physical profile and age profile have made him a target for long-term development.

A shift north would see him follow a growing group of Irish-qualified players being scouted globally as the IRFU look to strengthen depth at key positions.

With Leinster’s Tadhg Furlong (33) and Connacht’s Finlay Bealham (34) nearing the end of their rugby union career, establishing Ireland’s next long-term tighthead star is certainly a priority for performance director David Humphreys.

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Lions tourist Thomas Clarkson has emerged as the next cab off the rank, although he’s still some way off the finished article.

Munster, in particular, look lightly stocked at tighthead with injuries hitting their options, so they could prove a likely landing place for De Lutiis.

Samoa’s Michael Ala’alatoa’s short-term deal is ending, John Ryan is nearing retirement, Roman Salanoa is out long-term, and Oli Jager is struggling for fitness.

Their recent URC tour featured only two recognised No.3s, forcing inexperienced loosehead Kieran Ryan to cover tighthead.

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161 Comments
J
JW 42 days ago

Why not, do you think everyone plays for fun?

D
DT 44 days ago

Not for robbing overseas rugby talent.

J
JW 44 days ago

I was obviously ignoring you’re own logic, or lack there of.


What do you think scholarships are for LOL

D
DT 44 days ago

Not sure to respond to this level of stupidity.

D
DT 44 days ago

Do you research, why were Samisoni and Reece offered scholarships? You are ignorant yourself.

J
JW 44 days ago

This fine, we don’t do that. Your ignorance is of no concern to us.

J
JW 44 days ago

this is clearly an IRFU directive

J
JW 44 days ago

There’s hundreds of thousands that aren’t, why are you naming just the ones that have gone on to be All Blacks?


Are you saying they should be excluded from playing for their adopted country?


Why wouldn’t you think we’d be OK with residency in JGPs case?

C
Chiefs Mana 44 days ago

Best farmers in the world

D
DT 44 days ago

And I dont respect NZ farming teenage talent and then pretending they are the great humanitarians of world rugby. No one buys the bs strawman arguments that come out of NZ. Get off your high horses.

C
Chiefs Mana 44 days ago

No, I don’t respect Ireland trawling through family trees of players on the other side of the world hoping to find a distant link so that they can fast track them into their rugby team.

D
DT 44 days ago

There is no IRFU directive and you are being a hypocrite. NZ doesnt respect anyone but themselves, its always been that way and we would be foolish to expect anything otherwise.

C
Chiefs Mana 44 days ago

Hmm yeah but comes back to IRU directive which is the shameless thing. Just a shame for Irish rugby that in your quest for plugging talent gaps, you lost all the respect people had for you and still can’t get past the first round.

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