Lukhan Salakaia-Loto Re-Signs With Queensland and Australian Rugby Through 2028

Experienced lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has re-signed long-term until the end of 2028 in a major boost for the Queensland Reds and Wallabies.

The contract extension means the 28-year-old forward will remain at Ballymore for a further three years beyond the current season.

As with the recent re-signing of Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson, this will include the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil.

The powerful 125kg Salakaia-Loto made his debut for the Reds at just 19 in 2016 before launching his Wallabies career off the bench a year later against South Africa in Bloemfontein.

After seven seasons playing for the Reds, Salakaia-Loto expanded his rugby education with English club Northampton Saints (2022-23) and the Melbourne Rebels (2024).

Salakaia-Loto made his return to the gold jersey last year under coach Joe Schmidt, running out for the Wallabies in 11 of their 13 Tests in 2024.

He is now one of Australia’s most experienced forwards with 41 Test caps to his name since 2017 on top of his 71 games for the Reds and last year’s eight-game stint with the Melbourne Rebels.

Alongside his young family, Salakaia-Loto returned to Ballymore and the Reds ahead of the 2025 SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific season.

As Queensland Red No.1301 and Wallaby No.914, Salakaia-Loto is delighted to have his future locked in.

“Securing my future is massively important for me and my family and it’s pretty cool that I get to continue my career here at the Reds,” Salakaia-Loto said.

“I’m looking forward to giving back to the club that’s invested a lot in myself and my family.

“I feel like I’m only just getting started in the second chapter of my career and that my best rugby is ahead of me and hopefully I can put my best foot forward in a Reds jersey and a Wallabies jersey is something that I can continue to earn.

“The goal at the beginning of last year was to put the Wallabies jersey on again and it’s the goal again this year but I know that only comes from my performances for the Reds.

“To be at home for the next couple of years with my family settled here I think that’s important for me to be able to produce some good rugby.”

Born in Auckland and raised in western Sydney, Salakaia-Loto’s shift to Ballymore as a teenager of potential in 2015 began his rugby career in earnest.

His rugby pathways were in Queensland through the Queensland Under-20s and Brisbane City before he became a regular in the Reds pack of former coach Brad Thorn.

He was a key contributor for the Wallabies in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan where he played in all five matches.

Rugby Australia Director of High-Performance, Peter Horne said: “Lukhan is an experienced Test player whose re-signing shows his long-term commitment to the Queensland Reds and Australian Rugby.

“We’re looking forward to continuing to see him work hard and perform well for the Reds during the Super Rugby Pacific season.”

Reds head coach Les Kiss said he was delighted that Salakaia-Loto had settled on Queensland as his home.

“We have welcomed Lukhan and his young family to Brisbane,” Kiss said.

“He joined the Reds on the pre-season tour of the United Kingdom where the benefits of his experience were felt within our squad.

“We look forward to all he can contribute to the Reds on the field and in the locker room.”

LUKHAN SALAKAIA-LOTO
Position: Lock
Height: 200cm
Weight: 125kg
Born: September 19,1996
Place of birth: Auckland, New Zealand
Test debut: 2017 v South Africa, Bloemfontein
Wallaby cap number: 914
Test caps: 41
Queensland debut: 2016 v Bulls, Pretoria
Queensland cap number: 1301
Queensland caps: 71
Super Rugby caps: 77 (Reds 69; Melbourne Rebels 8)
Premier Rugby Club: Souths