Northampton Saints forward Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has been linked with an exit from Franklin’s Gardens, with a return home to Australia reportedly lined up ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The powerhouse forward can play as a lock or across the back-row, and has been a starring player for the Saints this season. He has played in 19 matches for the Saints this year, and scored two tries.
Reports from Australian sports news outlet The Roar suggest that the Wallabies star is expected to sign with the Melbourne Rebels, and bolster Eddie Jones squad ahead of their trip to France. Salakaia-Loto has reportedly been in communication with Jones, for a return to the Australia squad.
The 26-year-old only arrived in Northampton at the start of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season, with the reported move coming less than 12 months after his arrival. Prior to joining the Saints, Salakaia-Loto was tearing up the Super Rugby scene since 2016, as a prominent member of the Queensland Reds squad.
Salakaia-Loto also played provincially with Brisbane City in the National Rugby Championship. He made his Wallabies debut during the 2017 Rugby Championship, coming off the bench for London Irish lock Adam Coleman in the 27-27 draw with South Africa. Salakaia-Loto pressed on within Michael Cheika’s Wallabies, and earned a spot in the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad.
Salakaia-Loto is eyeing up a return to the Rugby World Cup stage with the Wallabies, who are out for redemption with England. Australia were eliminated in the 2019 RWC Quarter-Finals, after a heavy 40-16 defeat to what was then Eddie Jones’ England. Now Jones is on the other side of the fence, with a poetic reunion with England more than possible in the knock-out stages.