ACT Brumbies fullback Tom Wright has reflected on his rehab process as the Wallaby plots his return to Rugby.
Wright was coming off career-best form with the Wallabies before an ACL injury suffered against the Springboks cruelled his season.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
It will see the superstar miss the start of the Super Rugby Pacific season, joining fellow capped Wallabies Allan Alaalatoa and Lachlan Lonergan on the sidelines.
“I feel really good. Tetering about five and a half months since I had surgery so still a little bit longer to go," he told the media at the Super Rugby Pacific season launch. "I’ve got a test in a couple of weeks to give me an indication about maybe a closer timeline when I can integrate into team training
“Once I can, then it’s about making sure that I feel comfortable to go back to [the]game so that I can get my timing and my feel. It's pretty important for a player like me to get back up to speed with my handling"
The 28-year-old lit up the British & Irish Lions series and was one of the Wallabies' best in their famous win at Ellis Park.
Having that ripped away from him suddenly took its toll on the Brumby, crediting his family for helping him through the process.
“It was definitely a challenge. It saw me take a little bit of time to reflect,” he admits.
“I suppose coming home to get surgery straight away, in hindsight, was probably the best thing, so I wasn't mulling on it, and then the focus actually went to the physical part of getting everything started.
“I’ve got a young one who is just shy of two when I got home from surgery, so I had my hands full there, too, which again took my mind off the external noise and pressure.
“Being able to follow the team on a week-to-week basis for the best part of 10 to 12 weeks post-operation, it was difficult to watch from afar, because I felt like I was being able to contribute a lot when I was there, and then you get removed from what you're so accustomed to for such a long time, that was probably the most difficult part."
The Brumbies have undergone a significant roster transformation in 2026, with Noah Lolesio a key departure to Japan.
In steps Wallabies incumbent Tane Edmed in his place, with Wright already impressed with his growth under the legendary Stephen Larkham.
“He's going to learn heaps and he already has been soaking in," he added.
“Even to some of 'Bernie's' [Stephen Larkham] calm demeanour, I can see that rubbing off on Tane already so it's been cool to watch, from the rehab space"
The ACT Brumbies will finalise their pre-season against the NSW Waratahs on Thursday, before kicking off their season next Saturday in Perth against the Western Force.
