Injured Queensland Reds prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen is confident the side will return from their UK trip firing as he prepares to battle for a spot in the 23.
Toomaga-Allen missed the trip to former club Ulster with a knee injury, relegated to tour guide from home as the Reds prepare for Saturday's match.
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It caps off a worldwide pre-season for the Reds that includes games against Wales, Tonga and Japanese clubs.
"I think mentally it is just so good...I think it is really refreshing to play in different places," the prop told Rugby.com.au from the Super Rugby Pacific season launch.
"It is great for the development of the game. It’s exciting when you get to travel to Tonga and it’s good for the game in Tonga and Japan playing over there.
"I think Les [Kiss] has really done it well in terms of using his resources overseas. So it’s just exciting as a player knowing that we are going on tour and creating those bonds which is only natural."
Toomaga-Allen is pushing for a round three return against the Western Force, with the competition for positions as fierce as ever.
Zane Nonggorr is an established Wallaby whilst young bull Massimo De Lutiis was the bolter in Joe Schmidt's January training squad.
"The young bucks coming through like Massimo de Lutiis, Trevor King, and also Zane Nonggorr, just three wonderful, amazing, talented players coming through," the former All-Black remarked.
"Then with the likes of myself with the experience, I think just trying to keep them at bay but it also gives them enough fire under the belly to just fight for the position."
The Reds claimed several big wins in 2024, including defeating Grand Finalists Chiefs and ending a 25-year drought with a win over the Crusaders in Christchurch.
From this, the club has serious title ambitions for 2025 after the addition of Wallabies Filipo Daugunu, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, and Josh Canham.
"I think initially the big thing about it was making sure we played a brand of rugby that Queensland loved and Queenslanders wanted to be a part of," Toomaga-Allen added.
"Having played the Chiefs early in that season, that was post 23 phases (when we won) so the fact that we did there created that sort of belief which carried on throughout the season.
"The injection of great players from Melbourne and club level, I think the belief is there, we just have to click in, and hopefully this tour helps that."
