Zac Lomax's Rugby debut delayed as cross-code star ruled out ahead of Reds-Force

Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 8:32 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Zac Lomax will wait another week to make his Super Rugby debut. Photo: Getty Images
Zac Lomax will wait another week to make his Super Rugby debut. Photo: Getty Images

Former NRL star Zac Lomax will have to wait another week for his professional Rugby Union debut after he was ruled out due to hamstring tightness.

Lomax was set to debut for the Western Force against the Queensland Reds, named on the bench.

Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.

However, the former NSW and Australian representative was removed from the line-up after pulling up sore.

He was replaced by centre Hamish Stewart, who came onto the bench to play against his old side.

Western Force coach Simon Cron said there was little need to risk Lomax as he continues to acclimatise to the new sport and side.

"He trained all Thursday and only got to 80% speed with the tight hamstring. He's been with us for three weeks and it'd be stupid to push that," Cron told the pre-game coverage.

"It'd be ok if it was one of our props but not one of our power athletes," he joked.

It means Lomax will likely debut next week against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka.

“I had a 10-15 second chat with him as he walked past and he said he got through all the session on Thursday and just tightened up on Friday," Stan commentator and Wallabies legend Tim Horan said on Lomax.

“He’s really disappointed and I said to him that there’s no pressure to really come back and play but he was keen to play next week in Fiji.”

The Force were forced into a further change, with Nathan Hastie ruled out with a rib injury.

Los Pumas scrumhalf Agustin Moyano came into the side to replace the former Highlander.

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