Darby Lancaster

Early life and background Darby Lancaster was born and raised in Kempsey He played junior rugby for the Kempsey Cannonballs Junior Rugby Club, He attended The Scots College in Sydney, and was a part of the teams 1st XV. While playing rugby at The Scots College, Lancaster tore his ACL and thought he'd never play rugby again. However, he received a contract to play for the Australia sevens team after school, and joined the team on the 2021–22 World Rugby Sevens Series.

Lancaster studied at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

Rugby career Rebels Lancaster's performances for the Australia sevens team earned him a contract for the Super Rugby side Melbourne Rebels, where he was named in the squad for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season. Before the start of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, Lancaster was recalled to the Australian Sevens team for the Perth event in the 2023–24 circuit off the back of strong performances in 2023. Lancaster played nine matches for the Rebels in 2024, all as a first-team wing.

Waratahs Following 2024, the Melbourne Rebels team was axed from the Super Rugby, which saw a mass exodus of their players to other teams in the competition. Lancaster thus joined the New South Wales Waratahs in his home state for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season. Lancaster was the third confirmed former Rebels player signed by the Waratahs (after Andrew Kellaway and Taniela Tupou). Lancaster featured in the opening trial and earned eight appearances through to May, scoring 20 points (four tries). where he scored a try and earned selection in the AUNZ Invitational XV, another career milestone.

Force In late August 2025 it was confirmed that Lancaster had signed for Australian rival Super Rugby team, the Western Force for their 2026 season. Lancaster reportedly turned down an offer from English Premiership team Newcastle Red Bulls. He was announced in the third round starting XV, where he made his Force debut against the Moana Pasifika at Pukekohe. Lancaster scored the opening try, assisted by teammate Ben Donaldson's cross-field kick, in what became a 35–19 victory, ending the side's nine-match winless run. The result secured their first win of the season and their first successful result on New Zealand soil in four years. scoring three points towards his Player of the Year tally. In a round eight encounter against arch-rivals the Reds, Lancaster sustained a serious ankle injury after landing awkwardly while contesting a cross-field kick from teammate Ben Donaldson. Despite the injury, he retained possession and crossed for a try in the 50th minute. however Lancaster was subsequently sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Blues In June 2026, Lancaster was revealed to have signed a multi-year deal with the Blues in Auckland, New Zealand. He told Nine.com.au that his decision to sign for the team was driven primarily by the opportunity to develop under incoming coach Jason Holland and play an attacking-focused style of rugby, rather than by ambitions on Wallabies selection or the Rugby World Cup (RWC). adding: "Super Rugby officials believe relaxing the eligibility laws by opening the borders between Australia and New Zealand could help build interest in the competition." He was named in their senior squad ahead of the 2026 season.

International career He was named in the Australia U20 squad in 2023. Lancaster started on the right-wing in two of Australia's three matches in the 2022 Oceania Rugby Under 20 Championship. He scored one try. where he made three appearances, scoring two tries overall from the left-wing. Lancaster started on the left-wing for Australia in a 40–29 victory. At the end of the year, Lancaster was called up to the Australia A squad where he played one game against England A.

International

+ Appearances and tries by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsTries Points Australia A 2024 1 0 0 Australia 2025 1 0 0 Total 2 0 0

Awards and honours Eastern Suburbs Shute Shield: 2022