The scathing reaction to Zac Lomax’s switch to rugby union has continued, with especially strong words coming from International Rugby League boss Troy Grant.
Barely a week after losing his desperate legal fight to play NRL with the Melbourne Storm, the former Eels and Dragons winger announced his ‘dream’ of playing rugby for Australia after signing a two-year Super Rugby deal with the Western Force.
“Like any player, the dream of one day representing the Wallabies on a truly international stage, and potentially competing at a Rugby World Cup, is a powerful motivation,” Lomax said in a statement from Rugby Australia.
An avalanche of criticism quickly flooded in from the rugby league community with former players and fans accusing the player of hypocrisy, with IRL chairman Troy Grant at the head of the queue.
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“It’s nice to hear about Zac’s dream of representing the Wallabies, which comes less than two weeks after losing his court case to play with Melbourne,” Grant told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“His departure from international rugby league is of no consequence—and he will have no impact on rugby union.
“All I can say, ‘don’t let the door hit you on the arse on the way out’.”