{"id":484672,"date":"2025-12-22T19:48:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T20:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=484672"},"modified":"2025-12-23T00:21:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T00:21:06","slug":"brumbies-and-force-battle-for-lomax-as-ra-top-up-call-looms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=484672","title":{"rendered":"Brumbies and Force battle for Lomax as RA top-up call looms"},"content":{"rendered":"

The clock is ticking for Zac Lomax<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The former Parramatta Eels<\/a> star must make a call on his Super Rugby<\/a> future before the year is out.<\/p>\n

While the Brumbies have tabled a two-year contract to rival an offer from the Western Force, the Sydney Morning Herald<\/a> reports that Rugby Australia (RA) is being asked to provide a contract top-up for the 26-year-old to help seal the deal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

Lomax is reportedly \ufeffprepared to take a pay cut to chase Wallabies selection ahead of the 2027 home World Cup.<\/p>\n

However, sources say French and Japanese clubs remain in the frame for his signature, offering financial terms that likely dwarf local bids.<\/p>\n

RA remains wary of overspending on a top-up while it works to secure star Waratahs winger Max Jorgensen.<\/p>\n

A five-year offer is already on the table for the 21-year-old, who comes off contract at the end of 2026.<\/p>\n

Under the current pay structure, Super Rugby franchises can offer a maximum $220,000 annual salary. To bridge the gap, RA provides top-up payments to a select group of roughly 30 players viewed as vital contributors to the Wallabies.<\/p>\n

Beyond the cash injection, these top-ups function as strategic investments, often tied to specific clauses ensuring Wallabies availability.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Without a top-up, Lomax faces a significant pay cut from his previous $700,000-a-year deal at Parramatta.<\/p>\n

Even playing all 15 Tests in 2026 would only net him $400,000, as match fees for non-central players sit at $12,000 a Test compared to the $10,000 paid to those on top-ups.<\/p>\n

Originally a marquee target for the rebel R360 competition, Lomax secured a release from Parramatta after only one season.<\/p>\n

But with that competition on ice until 2028, he has been forced to explore alternative paths for his immediate future.<\/p>\n

Having toured the Force's facilities earlier this month, Lomax continues to weigh a move to the west.<\/p>\n

As both the Brumbies and Force ramp up pre-season training, the countdown is on to their round one showdown in Perth on February 14.<\/p>\n

Failure to sign a Super Rugby deal by year's end leaves Lomax in footballing limbo, facing a 2026 pre-season without a home club.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The clock is ticking for Zac Lomax. The former Parramatta Eels star must make a call on his Super Rugby future before the year is […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":484674,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484672"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=484672"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484672\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":484677,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484672\/revisions\/484677"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/484674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=484672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=484672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=484672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}