Langi Gleeson and Tom Hooper’s overseas deals might not have left Rugby Australia sweating, but Fraser McReight’s comments that there are “opportunities everywhere” should.

While Rob Valetini is the back-to-back John Eales Medallist, McReight likely has more claims to being the world’s best in his position.

McReight’s superb performance against 2022 World Rugby Player of the Year Josh van der Flier in Dublin on last year’s Spring Tour put him on the global map as one of the game’s best openside flankers.

Only Ardie Savea would likely pip McReight, but the All Blacks star often has the No.8 jersey on his back.

Others like inspirational captain Siya Kolisi and England’s Sam Underhill are two other quality No.7s, but neither possesses a running and link game quite like McReight, who found his feet on the international stage last year after previously being in the shadow of Michael Hooper.

It’s why cashed-up clubs are swarming, with McReight attracting seven-figure offers from more than one part of the world.

At this stage, McReight will forgo roughly $400,000 by staying in Australian rugby with the governing body tabling an offer around $625,000.

It’s a huge sum, especially given his predecessor Hooper signed a lucrative five-year, $1 million deal in 2018.

RA is counting on McReight’s desire to wear the gold jersey over the coming years because in usual circumstances their offer wouldn’t be worth a second thought.

But given he’s one of only a few locks in Joe Schmidt’s starting XV on the eve of the Lions series, it’s a risky play that could cost the Wallabies their prized openside flanker and comes after RA director of rugby Peter Horne said he was “happy with the depth” the system had despite Gleeson and Hooper’s recent departures.

Nor is he the only player weighing up his future, with half the Wallabies’ starting XV off contract at season’s end.

RA isn’t expecting to be able to secure them all, with Len Ikitau, Noah Lolesio, Nick Frost and Taniela Tupou most at risk of going. Tom Wright, the Wallabies’ most improved player, is another who can easily command well over $1m overseas.

The highly secretive breakaway competition, which is hoping to launch in mid-2026, is another force at play with seven-figure deals being thrown around willy-nilly.

One of the only ways RA might be able to keep most of their players if they can work sabbaticals into several contracts in 2026, with some, including Rob Valetini and Tate McDermott, having that option up their sleeves.

Asked whether he wanted to commit long-term to Australian rugby, McReight admitted there was plenty of options up his sleeve but added that he wasn’t in a rush to make his decision.

“There’s plenty of opportunities everywhere you want to look,” he said.

“I think for me, that’ll take care of itself. If I’m playing my best rugby and doing my best right here and take it into the Wallabies, that will take care of itself.

“I’m in no rush. I just want to enjoy my rugby, and enjoy winning and competing.

“There’s a long list of boys off contract, that’s for sure. I’m sure as the weeks and months roll on that list will get smaller and people will start figuring out what they want to do. But my goal is to play really well here for the Reds and then the Wallabies.”

Fraser McReight was in career best form in 2024. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Rugby Australia has long spruiked its “golden decade” and late last year unveiled a bullish five-year strategy that bordered on the ridiculous given its financial struggles, but any hope of making the final weekend of the 2027 World Cup for the first time since 2015 will require stability with players and coaches.

Asked whether the inroads made last year could go to waste if several players leave for financial riches overseas, McReight accepted that it was preferable to build partnerships over a long period of time.

“I mean, having some consistency last year at the back end was great, and I feel like there’s always a balance at Test level where you have to be putting out the performances and results to warrant that consistency, which we were able to do which is great,” he said.

“The longer you play with people you understand their games.”

More pressing for McReight is helping the Reds build on last year by making a long run into this year’s finals.

After a three-day camp in Sydney last week with a 40-man Wallabies squad that McReight described as “pretty chilled”, the experienced Super Rugby campaigner said he was excited to be back at Ballymore where he was keen on getting some “fitness back” ahead of their exciting two-week pre-season tour in the United Kingdom.

“I think the best thing that happened for me (last year) was a change of coaching staff, with a new way of wanting to play,” McReight said. “It was refreshing.

“I’m really looking forward to this year, I think it’s going to be a big year, with obviously the carrot being the Lions.

“I’m trying not to think six or seven months ahead. It’s day one, so it’s about getting some fitness back, get some rugby, I’ll probably be rusty and then we go on this great tour and play some great teams up north.”

Fraser McReight dives over to score against the Chiefs at Suncorp Stadium on March 09, 2024. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Once the Reds return from playing Bristol and Ulster there will be great expectation about Kiss’ Reds after at last challenging the heavyweights last year.

Throw in the fact that the Reds swooped on some of the best from the Rebels by adding Wallabies Matt Gibbon, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Filipo Daugunu and a top four finish is essential for the Australian side.

Asked what would change at the Reds by having the reinforcements, McReight said he anticipated a fierce challenge at training as positions go on the line.

“The great thing about having a lot more Test caps is there’s a lot more depth in the squad, but it comes back down to the competitiveness at training and the performance,” he said.

“If someone’s good enough and young enough, then they’re good enough.”

The Reds’ back-row shapes as a particular point of strength given McReight will play alongside two of the Wallabies’ captains last year, but the Junior Wallabies skipper said their depth extended beyond the Test trio.

“It’s not just us three,” he said.

“We’ve got a pretty stacked back three with JB (Josh Bryant), Brialy (Joe Brial), even Seru [Uru] can mix it with the second rowers. We’ve got so much competition.

“I think it starts at training. The coaches are going to put it on us from the get-go and we’ve got to earn our ᵴtriƥes, which we understand.

“Having Harry and Liam as captains, they know a lot about themselves and how they like to play, I just get to follow them around on the field and have a bit of fun. But I think for us it’s about competing and bringing it on the field at training.”