Brumbies lure Manly's Wright away from NRL

Tom Wright has decided to quit NRL club Manly and return to rugby union, signing a two-year deal with the Brumbies.

The 21-year-old was a promising schoolboy rugby union player and was on target for the Rio Olympics sevens team.

But his electric pace caught the eye of nine NRL clubs and he elected to knock back a lucrative Rugby Australia sevens contract and join the Sea Eagles in 2015, as their long-term replacement for Kieran Foran.

He made his NRL debut in 2018, scoring one try in his four appearances, but with his contract ending he has chosen to return to his first love.

"Tom has genuine X-factor in attack with ability to create something out of nothing," Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said.

"He also possesses very good skill and we have said for some time now that to play our style of rugby we need to recruit players with good skill and Tom has that."