Pete Samu name-checked by Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt for Lions tour after reportedly signing Super Rugby deal

Pete Samu is reportedly on his way back to Super Rugby Pacific in Australia and could be in contention to face the British and Irish Lions with the Wallabies.

The impressive Bordeaux back-rower is currently chasing a Champions Cup/Top 14 title double, but it has emerged he has agreed terms to join Dan McKellar’s Waratahs, a transfer that would pave the way for his Test level recall.

An exclusive report on theroar.com.au read: “Pete Samu could be a Wallabies bolter to face the Lions after signing a deal to return to Australian rugby in 2026. The Roar can reveal that the 33-year-old, who played the last of his 33 Tests against the Springboks in Eddie Jones’ first Test back in charge of the Wallabies in 2023, has agreed to terms with the Waratahs.

“His return will help ease the pain of losing fellow back-rowers Langi Gleeson and Rob Leota, who will continue their careers in the French Top 14. It will also serve as a full circle moment for Samu, having played for Randwick but been looked past for higher honours at the Waratahs before heading across the ditch.

“It was under Scott Robertson where Samu made his name, helping the Crusaders to successive Super Rugby championships in 2017 and 2018 before joining Dan McKellar’s Brumbies. Now, McKellar has brought him home.”

“Potentially, there’s other guys like Pete Samu…”

Samu still has plenty of rugby to play before he returns to Australia. Bordeaux have qualified for their first-ever Champions Cup final, a showdown where they will face Northampton in Cardiff on May 24, while they are also second in the Top 14 and will compete for that title in the end of season play-offs.

Qualification for the French league final would complicate Samu’s potential return with the Wallabies as that club decider is scheduled for June 28, just three weeks before Schmidt’s squad open their Test series versus the Lions in Brisbane.

Samu, though, was name-dropped by Schmidt on Monday, indicating that he could well be in the Wallabies’ selection mix to take on Andy Farrell’s tourists at some stage across the three-match series which culminates on August 2 in Sydney.

Speaking to reporters about the availability and eligibility of the Wallabies’ overseas-based players, Schmidt said: “We haven’t made any hard and fast decisions. But we obviously used Will (Skelton), Samu (Kerevi) and Marika (Koroibete) last year.

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“I’ve spoken about James (O’Connor). Potentially, there’s other guys like Pete Samu, who’s committed, I think, to coming back at some stage. And even the guys who are going, like Tom Hooper and Langi Gleeson, I do think we’ll see them back playing for the Wallabies at some stage.

“So, we don’t want to discount anyone. Because as Andy Farrell has done, they have picked a form squad. We’d love to pick a form squad. But as I’ve always said, if there’s anything that we think is 50/50, it’s more difficult to absorb someone in from outside of the groups that play together already. It’s just not the same cohesion.”

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