Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has secured a three-year contract extension with Rugby Australia, ensuring his participation in the 2027 World Cup set to take place in Australia. The 28-year-old lock, who moved to Australia at a young age, made a significant impact in rugby, debuting for the Wallabies at just 21. Over his career, he has represented Australia 30 times, emerging as a key player under coach Joe Schmidt last year, where he featured in 11 out of 13 Test matches.
In addition to his national duties, Salakaia-Loto will also continue with the Queensland Reds, having returned to the Super Rugby franchise this year after a short time with the now-closed Melbourne Rebels. He expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to further his career with the Reds, stating that securing his future is vital for both him and his family.
Salakaia-Loto looks forward to giving back to the club that has supported him. He feels that he is entering a new and exciting phase in his career, believing that his best rugby is yet to come. His goal remains to regularly don the Wallabies jersey, achievable through strong performances with the Reds.
With his family’s future settled in Australia, he is optimistic about producing quality rugby in the coming years. This new development in his career follows the recent news of Wallabies captain Harry Wilson also re-signing with the Reds.