Brutally uninvited to Wallabies camp earlier this year, Montpellier-bound back-rower Langi Gleeson says he’s hoping his form for the Waratahs this season forces Joe Schmidt’s hand and sees him picked to take on the Lions.
Despite being named in Schmidt’s pre-season Wallabies camp late last year, The Roar revealed the 23-year-old was told he was no longer needed after signing with the French Top 14 outfit.
For the rising back-rower, who came from the clouds to be named by Dave Rennie after an eye-catching finish to his maiden season in 2022 before continuing as a regular part of the Wallabies under Eddie Jones and Schmidt, his brutal axing caught many by surprise.
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Although Montpellier have yet to confirm Gleeson’s signature, Rugby Australia confirmed the tackle-busting loose-forward had decided to leave at the end of the 2025 Super Rugby season.
“We recognise the opportunity that was presented to Langi overseas and wish him well as he embarks on the next chapter of his career,” RA director of high performance Horne told The Roar in a statement.
“We are happy with the depth we have developed across the system and look forward to the huge season ahead.”
Langi Gleeson was brutally left out of the Wallabies’ pre-season camp despite being named in it in December. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Speaking for the first time since sensationally being asked not to come into camp at Homebush Bay, Gleeson said he was intent on leaving a lasting impression and making it impossible for Schmidt, who himself confirmed last week that he would finish as Wallabies coach in October, not to pick him.
“I told him (Schmidt) that this could potentially be my last year, and then I sort of get why he did that,” Gleeson said ahead of Friday’s opening Super Rugby clash against the Highlanders in Sydney.
“I sat with him after the camp just to go through improvements from last year and what he wants to see this year.
“If I play good enough, then they’ll have to pick me. That’s the mindset that I’m going to go as hard as I can this year and see how it goes. Whether I get picked or not, I’ll just put my body in line for the boys.”
Asked for the exact reason Schmidt gave Gleeson, the 14-Test Wallaby said “I don’t know if I can disclose, but it didn’t seem like a forceful thing. He was very calm about it and I sort of understood why.”
But is taking on the Lions still a possibility for Gleeson?
“I’m definitely still available,” he said. “It just depends on the performance that I put in Super this year and the other boys as well.”
Langi Gleeson has been a tackle-busting machine for the Waratahs since debuting in 2022. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Gleeson also left the door slightly ajar about baulking from his deal with Montpellier by saying he potentially could still remain in Australia.
“Potentially, yes,” he said.
“I just want to leave a good memory, if I do or don’t leave.
“But I’m just really focused on this season and just trying to compete with the top players in my position.
“I think with each game I’ll be lining up the opposition eight, or wherever I’m playing, and just try to outplay them.”
Although it’s unlikely Gleeson will abort his new deal, it’s not completely unprecedented.
Indeed, some last-minute scrambling from Dan McKellar helped convince RA to come to the party and ensure they didn’t lose Nick Frost to Robbie Deans’ Wild Knights in Japan in 2022. Months later, he was a Wallaby after backflipping on the “done deal”.
For now, Gleeson isn’t the only back-rower who has decided to leave, with versatile Test forward Tom Hooper joining Exeter.
The duo is not expected to be the only ones to leave, with overseas clubs circling Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Brumbies stars Noah Lolesio and Len Ikitau.
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Rugby
Despite deciding to leave, Gleeson said it meant “everything” to play for the Wallabies.
“I had a dream of playing Wallabies when I was a kid, even in Fiji,” he said.
“So every time I step on the field, you’ve got uncles in Europe watching all over there, family in Fiji, family in Australia, so it’s very big for me.
“Being one of the few players in the family that’s played professionally, I feel like the family’s very proud of me and it’s a motivation to play.”
On the evidence of Gleeson’s showing in the Waratahs’ sole pre-season fixture against the Brumbies, RA might well be forced to eat those words after storming over the top of Rory Scott.
“I think the number eight jersey is a position that’s probably the most physical in the sport, so I just try to do that even for the boys here,” Gleeson said.
“McKellar just wants me to be that dominant force and carry and tackle hard, and just be the pest.”