He’s played in World Cups, Bledisloe Cup fixtures and starred in front of packed houses in Europe, but Will Skelton says taking on the Lions in a Test will take the cake.
“It would be the pinnacle,” the 2023 World Cup Wallabies skipper says, having been named in Joe Schmidt’s squad to take on Fiji in their sole hit out before taking on the Lions next month.
“It’s very special and a lot of players are putting their hand up to try and play in those games. It’s an occasion where everyone wants to be playing. It would be really cool to be part of.”
Skelton was merely a giant puppy the last time the Lions toured Down Under in 2013.
Having just made his Super Rugby debut, the 21-year-old was thrust into the arena against the Lions, blissfully unaware of his well-timed run into professional rugby.
“I watched it last week, actually,” Skelton said.
“[I was] very raw. I didn’t understand the magnitude of the tour as I do now with all the experience I’ve had. It’s a massive occasion for rugby and especially rugby in Australia.”
One of Will Skelton’s first matches in professional rugby was against the British & Irish Lions at Allianz Stadium on June 15, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Why’d he watch it?
“I wanted to have a look at what the atmosphere was like, how I was as a player then, how I’ve changed, how I’ve improved, and just take it as an experience, because I know in the few weeks that’s coming – the Lions are a special team,” Skelton said.
“I was excited, and I wanted to see what it was like back then. That was a crazy time.”
And what did he notice?
“I went ‘far out’, I walked a lot of that game,” he quipped.
“I wasn’t actually that good. I didn’t have too many involvements and it was probably my third professional game.”
Twelve years on and Skelton shapes as one of the Wallabies’ most important figures if the men in gold want to claim their first series over the Lions since 2001. It’s why Schmidt included the La Rochelle-based lock as his only foreign star in his side.
In the prime of his career, the Test stalwart is one of the few players in the Wallabies with any silverware to speak of, having won everywhere he’s gone.
Will Skelton and coach Ronan O’Gara celebrate after La Rochelle beat Leinster to win the 2022 Heineken Cup in Marseille, France. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Such is his reputation abroad that long-time Times columnist Stephen Jones included the Wallabies giant in his greatest ever XV in 2023.
Down Under, however, Skelton isn’t quite held in those same lofty heights by most.
Perhaps it’s because of the stop-start nature of his Test career, where Skelton has been limited to just 32 Tests since debuting for the Wallabies under Ewen McKenzie in 2014.
But while changing his reputation isn’t his driver, Skelton admits he wants to show what he can do in the Wallabies jersey as he moves into the twilight of his career.
“I think every player, especially myself, you want to put your best foot forward, especially for your country, not just club rugby,” he said.
“That’s definitely a point where I want to put my hand up and give more to this team, give more to this jersey.
“Hopefully, the preparation that we have in the next few weeks puts me in good stead to be able to play and show what I can do.”
Will Skelton played for the Wallabies twice in 2025. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Despite often swanning in and out of the side, Skelton says he’s never taken the Wallabies for granted.
“I think any time you’re picked for an Australian squad it’s special,” he said. “I never take that for granted.
“Every time I get a phone call that I’ll be involved, or if I’m keen to still play, it’s something that I love doing.
“I’m really proud to represent this country and represent the jersey.
“I don’t think it will cap it off. I think it’s equal or on par with every other selection that I’ve had.
“With the Lions coming and Fiji coming to Australian shores, that will be an awesome experience.”
While the Wallabies are heavy underdogs to beat the Lions, Skelton said he was encouraged by the strides his side made under Schmidt in 2024.
It’s why he was desperate to join the Wallabies later in the year during their annual end of season tour to the United Kingdom and Europe.
“I think one of my first thoughts was I want to be a part of that,” he said.
“You see how the first July series went and we got a few wins. You could see that the belief was building and the confidence was building throughout every campaign.
“When they got to Europe and I linked up with the boys, there was a buzz, there was an energy around the team that was, I want to play, I want to put my best foot forward, I want to be involved here.
“I want to learn as much as I can, especially from excellent coaches like Joe and Geoff Parling. You’ve got Lord (Laurie Fisher) there who’s been a stalwart in Australian rugby.
“For me, it’s always about trying to improve and try and play my best and train my best. To be a part of this squad is really special.”
Sunday week’s fixture against the Flying Fijians will be the first time the two nations have clashed since Simon Raiwalui’s side shocked the Wallabies in Saint Etienne at the 2023 World Cup.
Skelton, as well as fellow Wallabies Taniela Tupou and Tate McDermott, missed the clash due to injury.
Their absence proved telling in the Wallabies’ catastrophic defeat.
But Skelton, who missed the Wallabies’ final three World Cup matches, said the match wasn’t about trying to set the record straight.
“I don’t really think about making up for games,” he said. “I hate missing games. I hate getting injured, but it is part of the sport.
“For us, it will be having a good week of preparation and then flying into the Fiji game. It’s going to be tough. You can see what the Drua do week in, week out. When you add guys from Europe, who are superstars over there, it’s going to be a really tough game.
“It’s a great way to get us ready for what’s coming with the Lions.”
