Uncapped Wallabies prospect joins squad after 20-Test prop ruled out

Queensland Reds prop Massimo De Lutiis has been called into the Wallabies squad in Japan after Zane Nonggorr picked up an injury, with the 22-year-old set to help the top squad prepare for a clash with the Brave Blossoms in Osaka.

20-Test prop Nonggorr has been ruled out of the Test at Hanazono Rugby Stadium with a minor calf strain, which has opened the door for one of Australia’s most talked-about uncapped prospects to join the national team.

De Lutiis dominated rugby headlines earlier this year, with reports linking the young tighthead with a shock move to Ireland. But Rugby Australia announced on April 8 that De Lutiis has re-signed on a new deal through to the end of 2029.

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The Southport School product has represented Queensland against a Warren Gatland-coached Wales side and Tonga, and has so far played 13 matches for the Reds at Super Rugby Pacific level, including four appearances last season.

De Lutiis started for Australia A against an England XV in November 2024 and was more recently named in a 40-man Wallabies squad under then coach Joe Schmidt, with that group assembling in Sydney in January 2026.

“I definitely feel like a weight has been lifted with this decision. Now I’m locked in, I can focus on the next three years in Australia,” De Lutiis said in a statement, having re-signed with Rugby Australia and the Queensland Rugby Union this year.

“I know the Reds and the Wallabies have the world-class coaches who are really good for young tightheads and their development.

“I had a lot to weigh up. I spent a good week or two going through it and it was a bit stressful.

“Family, knowing Australia and what it is like here…they were two big deciding factors.

“‘Did I want to be potentially playing in front of family and friends at a home World Cup next year?’ I asked myself that question as well. Even if I don’t, it would be amazing to be around a tournament like that with the huge support that’s out there.”

It’s the start of a new era for the Wallabies, who have a new-look coaching group leading them through to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 on home soil. Les Kiss has taken over from Schmidt, signing on until the end of 2028.

The Wallabies got together in Sydney last week, before jetting off to Osaka. Kiss leads a coaching group that includes former All Blacks assistant Scott McLeod, who has already spoken about how the team plans to evolve its attack.

“Don’t want to change too much of what the boys have been doing or what they’re used to, particularly in Test match rugby, for the intensity that we want them to play at,” McLeod told reporters this week, before the Wallabies face Japan in Osaka.

“But we’ve definitely given them some focuses around skill set that we want to just sharpen and also some of our movement, and a little bit of our structure off lineout and into the phase play.

“We just have to get the ball, so we’ve got to be in the right places at the right time to be able to get the ball,” he added. “The real DNA of this team is about scoring tries and playing the footy that we want to play and throw that ball around and enjoying ourselves and expressing ourselves.

“We just have to work hard, be accurate and just get the ball to be able to do that.”