The Wallabies have locked away another key part of their forward contingent, after second-rower Lukhan Salakaia-Loto signed on through to the end of 2028.
The Queensland Reds lock, who is currently sidelined by a leg injury, will remain at Ballymore for at least the next three seasons, giving the next Wallabies coach stability at lock for the run to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Salakaia-Loto’s extension comes on the back of that signed by Reds teammate and Wallabies captain Harry Wilson, while reports suggest star centre Len Ikitau will also recommit to Rugby Australia but with a nine-month sabbatical across 2025 and 2026 written into his contract.
Salakaia-Loto only returned to Australian rugby in the back half of 2023, before joining the Melbourne Rebels for 2024. With that franchise having been wound up amid crippling financial issues, Salakaia-Loto decided to return to Queensland — the club he played for before joining English outfit Northampton — for the 2025 season and has quickly settled into life under coach Les Kiss despite his injury.
“I feel like I’m only just getting started in the second chapter of my career and that my best rugby is ahead of me and hopefully I can put my best foot forward in a Reds jersey and a Wallabies jersey is something that I can continue to earn,” Salakaia-Loto said.
“The goal at the beginning of last year was to put the Wallabies jersey on again and it’s the goal again this year but I know that only comes from my performances for the Reds.
“To be at home for the next couple of years with my family settled here I think that’s important for me to be able to produce some good rugby.”
Salakaia-Loto, 28, can cover both lock and No. 6, having first made his Test debut against the Springboks in Bloemfontein in 2017.
He was part of Michael Cheika’s World Cup squad in 2019 but did not feature in Eddie Jones‘ group for the disastrous 2023 campaign.
Alongside Brumbies star Nick Frost and rising Western Force captain Jeremy Williams, Salakaia-Loto will be at the forefront of outgoing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt’s thinking at lock for the British & Irish Lions series in July and then the Rugby Championship thereafter.
“Lukhan is an experienced Test player whose re-signing shows his long-term commitment to the Queensland Reds and Australian rugby,” RA’s director of high performance Peter Horne said.
“We’re looking forward to continuing to see him work hard and perform well for the Reds during the Super Rugby Pacific season.”
Salakaia-Loto is due back for the Reds in a few weeks’ time.
“We have welcomed Lukhan and his young family to Brisbane,” Kiss said Salakaia-Loto’s extension.
“He joined the Reds on the pre-season tour of the United Kingdom where the benefits of his experience were felt within our squad.
“We look forward to all he can contribute to the Reds on the field and in the locker room.”
Source: espn.com