Ospreys have secured the signings of three Australian players—Lawson Creighton, Lalakai Foketi, and former Wallabies captain Liam Wright—ahead of the next season. This recruitment comes as a counterbalance to the departures of captain Jac Morgan and vice-captain Dewi Lake, who are moving across the Severn Bridge.
Wright's Journey to Wales
Wright, who captained the Wallabies in his first Test under coach Joe Schmidt in 2024, has been plagued by injuries, managing only 57 minutes of top-level rugby since that match against Wales in Sydney. After leaving the Queensland Reds, where he captained the club more often than all but James Horwill and Mark Loane, Wright is ready for a new challenge in Wales.
Speaking from Sydney, Wright credited Ryan Smith, a familiar face, for influencing his decision: “I'd spoken a lot with Ryan Smith. If he's got a head on his shoulders, he'll be taking commission from all these guys joining the Ospreys. He’s been a strong driving point at least for me to go there.”
Attracted by Ospreys' Culture
Wright expressed excitement about joining the Ospreys: “When I started speaking to Mark Jones, he was just really excited about what could be built. I think there was a bit of an appeal around just trying something different… getting into a different brand of footy, in a different competition.” He added, “I don't think you get much different from Brisbane to Wales and Swansea, so I’m really looking forward to that.”
Awareness of Welsh Rugby's Challenges
Wright acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Welsh rugby, with the Welsh Rugby Union considering reducing professional teams. He noted similarities to Australia's situation with the Melbourne Rebels: “We know what it's like for everyone to be a bit up in the air… Mark was pretty open and honest about that. There was also an air of confidence in the Ospreys camp that they had the foundations set and the resilience to carry through.”
Welsh Heritage a Coincidence
Despite his Welsh family history—his grandfather was from Pembroke—Wright said it wasn't a factor in his decision: “My last game for Australia was against Wales. The history with my family… it just shows that this is everything lining up nicely.”
International Ambitions on Hold
When asked about playing for Wales after a three-year stand-down period, Wright said: “That's something I only found out when I was talking to the media team… It's not something I've really considered. I think being out of the game a little bit, you realize how much needs to go into the performance.” He emphasized focusing on consistent performances for Ospreys first.
Captaincy and Leadership
Reflecting on his surprise captaincy for the Wallabies, Wright said: “He kept it pretty quiet. I was just hoping to find a spot in the 23. Then when it was announced, there was the 'C' next to my name. It caught me a bit off guard.” He added, “I was most proud around the journey that it took to get back there, and the resilience with the injuries.”
Preparing for Life After Rugby
During his time away from professional rugby, Wright played for Easts club in Brisbane, where he also mowed the pitch: “Probably not as much now as my days are a lot busier… hopping on the mower for a few hours is the least I could do.” He has also done coaching and work with Brisbane Junior Rugby Union's pathways.
Filling the Leadership Void
While not seeking a formal captaincy role, Wright believes his experience can help fill the void left by Morgan and Lake: “My leadership is often from getting to understand the squad and what the team might need at the time… I've really learned what it takes to get my routine going… leading by example and showing that it's not always rosy.”
He also highlighted his lineout experience: “It's something Ryan and I connected on years ago, running the lineout in Queensland. I'm looking forward to working with the coaches and other lineout forwards there.”
