Langi Gleeson

Langi Gleeson is a powerful Australian back-row forward who made the move to French rugby with Montpellier ahead of the 2025 season, after first making his name in Super Rugby with the New South Wales Waratahs. Born on 21 July 2001, he is primarily a No. 8 but covers across the back row, and his explosive ball-carrying and physical presence quickly marked him as one of the more destructive young forwards in Australian rugby. Gleeson made his Test debut for the Wallabies in October 2022, coming off the bench against Scotland, and went on to establish himself in the Australian squad, accumulating around 18 caps. He was selected in Australia's squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, a measure of the standing he had earned in the national back-row picture. His decision to join Montpellier in the Top 14 took him out of immediate Wallaby contention under Australia's overseas-selection policy, but it placed him in one of Europe's most physical domestic competitions, an environment well suited to his direct, confrontational style. At his best, Gleeson is a momentum-generating ball-carrier and a strong presence at the breakdown, attributes that make him a valuable addition to the Montpellier forward pack.