In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through Australian sport, rugby league star Zac Lomax is seriously considering a dramatic career switch to boxing or mixed martial arts.
From Rugby League to Combat Sports
The 26-year-old representative winger recently made the bold decision to walk away from his lucrative four-year contract with the Parramatta Eels after just one season, following his move from the Dragons. Lomax was earning an impressive $700,000 per season at the Eels, making his potential transition to combat sports even more remarkable.
According to reports, Lomax is '100 per cent interested' in testing himself in either boxing or MMA. His connection to Australian UFC superstar Alexander Volkanovski through training sessions at Volkanovski's Wollongong base has fuelled speculation about this unexpected career pivot.
High-Profile Endorsement
Joe Lopez, coach of UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski, provided compelling insight into Lomax's potential in combat sports. 'When he isn't training for footy, he's always here doing stuff with us,' Lopez told Fox Sports.
Lopez was particularly enthusiastic about Lomax's abilities, stating: 'Zac is definitely talented, he's gifted. I actually think no matter what sport he applies himself to, he would do well.' While acknowledging that Lomax isn't yet at world-class boxer level, Lopez added: 'If Zac was going to fight, say, other NRL players... I think he smokes 'em.'
Alternative Options and Rugby's Rebel League
Before the combat sports speculation emerged, Lomax's next move was widely tipped to be either French rugby or the controversial R360 competition. The privately-owned R360 league, registered to the United Arab Emirates Rugby Federation, has been making headlines with its ambitious plans.
Despite Australian Rugby League Commission chief Peter V'landys dismissing R360 as a 'competition out of a Corn Flakes box', the NRL has threatened players with 10-year bans if they defect to the rebel league. Most major rugby union nations, including Australia, are prepared to blacklist players from Test representation if they sign R360 deals.
The competition, which features former England rugby star turned Royal Family member Mike Tindall as its face and co-founder, is set to include teams in:
- London
- Miami
- Tokyo
- Dubai
- Boston
- Cape Town
- Lisbon
- Madrid
Notably, none of the teams will be based in Australia. Some contract offers are said to reach $1.5million per season, with Broncos prop Payne Haas reportedly receiving a $3million offer.
A player draft for R360 will be held next July, with the inaugural season beginning on October 2 and concluding before Christmas. The second season in 2027 will run from April to September and feature 12 rounds.
What Lomax ultimately chooses to do in 2026 remains one of Australian sport's most intriguing questions, with his decision expected to reveal much about the evolving landscape of professional sports careers and the increasing crossover between different athletic disciplines.
