Tom Lambert

A flanker in the New South Wales Waratahs' back row, Tom Lambert has built his reputation on graft rather than glamour. Born on 20 November 2000, he brings a high work rate to the breakdown and the kind of committed, chop-tackling defence that coaches prize in a modern openside. Lambert's game is rooted in the unglamorous corners of forward play: contesting the ruck, hunting turnovers and offering tireless support to ball-carriers in the loose. Since breaking into the senior setup, he has given the Waratahs dependable energy and depth among the loose forwards — the type of player who covers ground unseen and rarely lets his intensity dip across a full eighty minutes. Strong over the ball and fearless in contact, he profiles as a breakdown specialist whose worth is measured in collisions won and possession secured rather than headline moments. As he accumulates further Super Rugby experience, Lambert continues to shape up as a tenacious and reliable option for the Waratahs' pack, valued as much for his defensive presence as for the work he gets through away from the ball.