Wallabies blow as young talent who made big impact for Joe Schmidt’s side ‘agrees’ overseas deal
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt and back-rower Langi Gleeson.
Australian rugby is set to receive another setback after it was reported in France that a talented Wallaby is in line for a move to the Top 14 for the 2025/26 season.
It is being claimed that Montpellier are set to bring in back-rower Langi Gleeson, who was a regular feature of Joe Schmidt’s 23 in 2024.
Gleeson regularly made a big impact off the bench last season, doing so in both the Rugby Championship and Autumn Nations Series, but he is set to commit his future elsewhere.
That is according to Midi Olympique, who state that the athletic forward has already ‘given his agreement’ to the French side.
Replacing ex-England loose forward
The back-rower is set to replace Sam Simmonds in the squad, with the former England number eight reportedly moving to Lyon for next season.
Gleeson is a similar profile to Simmonds, given his speed and dynamism, and will be a significant coup for Montpellier should it be confirmed, but it would also be a blow for the Wallabies.
While Schmidt is still allowed to pick a limited number of foreign-based players, the 23-year-old would perhaps be some way down the pecking order considering the strength of talent they have outside Australia.
Equally, the head coach has been reluctant to bring in those overseas individuals with La Rochelle’s Will Skelton and the Japan-based Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete the only three to feature for the national team in 2024.
This decision could therefore affect Gleeson’s international ambitions in what is a huge 2025 for Australian players.
Lions tour
The back-rower’s current deal runs until the end of the year, which means that he will still be in the country when the British and Irish Lions land in July. However, it will raise the question of whether Schmidt will want to pick a player who has agreed to ply his trade elsewhere.
Last year, the head coach decided against selecting established Wallabies Mark Nawaqanitawase and Carter Gordon, who had both signed contracts ahead of the 2025 NRL season.
Granted, their situation was slightly different given that they had opted to play a different sport, but Schmidt has consistently shown that he wants individuals who are committed to Australian rugby.
Gleeson will therefore need a big Super Rugby campaign at the Waratahs if he is to retain his place in the squad for the Lions series.
He became the ideal impact player in 2024, often wearing the number 20 shirt and impressing off the bench late on in games, but that will come under threat following his reported switch to Montpellier.
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