Peter Horne says he’s confident the Wallabies can manage without Langi Gleeson, with the explosive back-rower set to move to the French Top 14 at season’s end.
The 23-year-old, who appeared at the 2023 World Cup and has featured under the past three Wallabies coaches, is poised to move to Montpellier and replace English international Sam Simmonds.
The news will shock many in Australian rugby given a British and Irish Lions series is only months away and the home 2027 World Cup is also on the horizon too.
Australia’s Langi Gleeson is set for a big move to France. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Gleeson is expected to be the first of a number of players who sign overseas in 2025, with Rugby Australia bracing for more hits.
But the governing body isn’t about to flinch either, with RA feeling the need to reverse the wage inflation that has been crippling national unions across the world.
“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.”
Rugby Australia director of high performance Peter Horne isn’t sweating over the loss of Langi Gleeson. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
Gleeson emerged on the scene with the Waratahs in 2022 and was a genuine bolter for what proved to be Dave Rennie’s final campaign with the Wallabies.
Capable of playing right across the back-row, Gleeson also caught Eddie Jones’ eye early after several explosive moments for the Waratahs early in 2023 and was picked for the World Cup later that year in France.
But it was under Joe Schmidt in 2024 that Gleeson became a mainstay in the Wallabies, with the damaging runner used regularly off the bench.
Gleeson amassed 14 Tests over his three years in gold.