The Wallabies will have to navigate the entire 2026 season without key lock Will Skelton, who has ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing for La Rochelle in France. Skelton sustained the injury during the first half of a Top 14 match against Bayonne, which La Rochelle lost 26-15. He took to Instagram to express his gratitude for the support he’s received, stating, “Season cut short. Thanks for all your messages,” and reassuring fans, “I’ll be back soon, I promise.” In a lighthearted moment, he shared an image of his injured foot in a moon boot while enjoying a meal with family, captioning it “C’est la vie,” which translates to “that’s life” in French.
Skelton, at 33 years old, is regarded as one of Australia’s premier rugby talents. He made his Wallabies debut in 2014 but has only appeared 37 times due to his stint in Europe starting in 2017. The 2023 Rugby World Cup was particularly disappointing for him, as he was named as a surprise captain by coach Eddie Jones but only participated in a single match due to a calf injury.
Before this most recent setback, coach Joe Schmidt had noted Skelton’s significance in the Wallabies’ plans heading into the 2027 World Cup, praising his size, agility, and skill, as well as his dedication to the team. “He’s a behemoth… but also agile and skillful, and he’s got great connection in the group,” Schmidt remarked, highlighting Skelton’s pride in representing Australia.
With Skelton sidelined, Schmidt’s upcoming matches in July against Ireland, France, and Italy will see Jeremy Williams and Nick Frost stepping up as the starting locks, while he prepares to hand over coaching duties to Les Kiss for a match against Japan in August. The Wallabies will miss Skelton’s powerhouse presence on the field, but the team will rely on others to fill the void as they gear up for the challenges ahead.