Phil Waugh’s rallying cry to AFL, NRL fans after Zac Lomax signing

Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh has issued a rallying cry to fans of the AFL and NRL to get behind the Wallabies as they continue to charge towards a Rugby World Cup on home soil in 18 months’ time.

Waugh fronted the press in Sydney on Tuesday, following the marquee signing of former NRL star Zac Lomax on a two-year deal. Lomax is the latest representative rugby league talent to commit to the 15-player game ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Tom Wright and Carter Gordon all played for the Wallabies in 2025, while the Sydney Roosters duo of Mark Nawaqanitawase and Angus Crichton are rugby union-bound after this year’s NRL season.

Lomax has penned a two-year deal with Rugby Australia and the Western Force in Super Rugby Pacific, effective immediately. The 26-year-old is currently focused on sinking “my teeth into the training” out west with the Force, but will be eligible for higher honours later this year.

The Wallabies showed signs of promise during a mammoth 15-Test international season in 2025, which included shock wins over the British & Irish Lions and Springboks, and will continue to build through to the showpiece event on home soil.

“You go back to those early 2000s leading into 2003 and the intent was to do everything you possibly could to win the World Cup in 2003 and we’ve got the same intention here,” Waugh told reporters in Sydney.

“The work that Joe [Schmidt] has been doing under [Peter Horne’s] leadership, with the culture that’s been built in that Wallabies environment, the more world-class athletes that we can get into that system, the more chance we have of going deep into that tournament.

“I’ve often said, we want to get the whole country behind rugby in this country as we go forward to the World Cup. If you follow AFL, NRL, we want everyone behind the Wallabies as we go through to ’27,” he added.

“It’s great to see the interest in the room here and it’s really exciting to have an athlete like Zac come across… and to be part of that World Cup in ’27.”

Lomax spoke candidly during a press conference that went for more than 20 minutes, describing the code switch as being “at the bottom” of a mountain. But rugby’s latest recruit also spoke about the desire “to climb and become the best rugby union player that I possibly can.”

It’s still unknown when Lomax will debut for the Force, with the club facing the Hurricanes this week in Napier before going on a bye. The Force return to action at home against the Chiefs on March 28 before flying to Brisbane for an Australian derby against the Queensland Reds.

“There’s obviously been a whole heap of scenarios that have come out, definitely hasn’t been ideal but at the same time, to be able to make a decision and move on from it is positive,” Lomax explained.

“My focus is, I’ve been able to make a decision now and I want to just be able to move on from it and I can’t wait to get over to Perth and become the best rugby union player that I possibly can.

“I know I’ve got a lot to learn, and that’s something that truly excites me, the growth in rugby union player that I could potentially become. I’ve put all my faith in [Force coach Simon Cron] and the team over there at Western Force and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”