The Western Force are today excited to confirm the signing of speedy 22-year-old Wallabies winger Darby Lancaster from the NSW Waratahs for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.
The dashing winger joins the Force after scoring five tries in seven games in the 2025 season for the ‘Tahs, having dotted four tries in 10 games for the Melbourne Rebels in 2024, his debut Super Rugby campaign.
Lancaster is capped internationally, debuting for the Wallabies against Georgia in July 2024 following his breakout 2024 campaign at the Rebels.
Previously, Lancaster came through the Australian Sevens pathway, playing in the 2021-22 World Rugby Sevens Series, before a stand-out U20 World Championship in 2023 with Australia’s 15-a-side team.
Lancaster scored on his Super Rugby debut for the Rebels against the NSW Waratahs, adding a hat-trick against the Highlanders in his third game.
More recently, he played for Eastern Suburbs in last month's NSW Shute Shield Grand Final defeat to Warringah, scoring his side’s first try.
Kempsey-born Scots College graduate Lancaster said he was thrilled to head west and link up with the Force.
“I’m very excited to sign on with the Force," Lancaster said. "It’s an exciting group who play fast, attacking rugby and as an outside back, that’s what I love to see.
“The rugby they play suits me. I’m really looking forward to playing with attacking minded players like Ben Donaldson. Playing at the fast deck of HBF Park, there’s bound to be some good running rugby, which will suit me.
“I’ve know a fair few of the players, so I’m excited to get among the group. I spent a week with Crono for the AUNZ game and got to know him a bit and Chucky (Stannard) used to coach me in my Australia 7s days, so I’m really excited to work with them.
“I’ve been over to Perth a few times and always loved my time over there. The lifestyle and the beaches are going to be really nice as well.”
Force head coach Simon Cron said: “Darby has characteristics that you really can’t coach, with his lightning quick speed and power. He can run over 10 metres per second. He’s a powerful human being. He’s shown that against us in a few games.
“He’s really driven to be successful and be the best he can be. We’ve had a lot of chats about that over the last couple of weeks. We’re excited to have him join our squad and add to the players that we have here.
“We’ve got to make sure that we continue to drive standards and expectations in the squad and he’ll do that. He’s had experience at Wallabies level and he knows a lot of players within the environment."
Lancaster will join the Force officially when the Club commences pre-season for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season in November.
The signing of Lancaster comes ahead of 2026 Force Memberships going on sale on Wednesday 1 October from 9am. More info here.
Darby Lancaster
DOB: 23/4/2003
Place of birth: Kempsey, NSW
Height: 190cm
Position: Wing
Junior club: Kempsey Cannonballs (NSW)
International career history
Wallabies (2024- , 1 cap)
Australia A (2024, 1 cap)
Australia U20s (2022-2023, 5 caps)
Australia 7s (2022-2024, 13 caps)
Club career history
NSW Waratahs (2025, 7 caps, 5 tries)
Melbourne Rebels (2024, 10 caps, 4 tries)
