Queensland Reds and Wallabies lock Josh Canham is the latest to re-sign for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The 25-year-old broke through for his maiden Test for the Wallabies against Japan after a strong Super Rugby season.
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With the home World Cup on the horizon, the carrot was too hard to ignore for the Melbourne-bred lock.
“How impressed I was with the club in my first year at the Reds and my ambition to play at a home Rugby World Cup are the big reasons to my decision,” Canham said. “If I left too early with all there is to play for in Australia, I’d never forgive myself.
The two-Test lock was eager to add further to his tally, having debuted off the bench against Argentina in 2024.
“I was very proud to pull on the gold jersey and run out as a starter for the first time in Tokyo,” Canham said. “I felt I left a lot out there in terms of how much more I can offer because I had to come off early (after a head knock). “That chance has certainly made me hungry to prove myself and get into that position again.
“Being in that Wallabies environment every day on tour enabled me to work on individual skills and understand the ins-and-outs of how the Wallabies go about things. I’m definitely going to be pushing for more consistent opportunities. “It’s a step in the right direction but you want to keep pushing because it’s not just about making squads.”
Reds and incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss was pleased to secure Canham for another 12 months, with the USA-born second-row rejecting overseas deals to stay at Ballymore.
“It’s fantastic that Josh has extended. There is so much upside in what he offers as a hard, physical player with great lineout skills and being very coachable," Kiss said. “He’s ambitious and really wants to play at the highest level which is reflected in his appetite to work to improve his game." “Josh is an emerging young player who has had some Test experience and has a bright future ahead of him," Rugby Australia’s Director of High Performance Peter Horne added. “We’re looking forward to continuing to support him in Australian Rugby and seeing him work hard to further develop his game.”
