Forward Toby Brial and utility back Coby Miln have today been unveiled as the latest recruits to the 2027 Queensland Reds squad for the Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season.
In all, the 41-strong squad features 17 players with Test experience for the Wallabies, including Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight and Tate McDermott, who have all captained their state and country.
The depth of experience in the Reds squad for 2027 extends to four players who have played 100 Super Rugby or cap games for their club and a further 11 who have played more than 50 times.
Hard-running 2023 World Cup centre Izaia Perese, aspiring young forwards Lachie Hooper and Brial, Australia A prop Tom Lambert, hardened former Wallabies lock Cadeyrn Neville, Australia Under-20s centre Taione Taka and Miln are fresh signings for the 2027 squad.
Brial, 20, is a 1.93m backrower who excelled at lock in six matches for the Australia U20s this year when involved in the NSW Waratahs program. As a Reds development player, he will join older brother Joe in the squad.
Kiwi Miln, 27, has played in Japan, New Zealand, the USA and Australia over the past four years to hone his playmaking skills.
Over the past 14 months, he has guided Warringah to a 2025 Shute Shield title in Sydney club rugby from flyhalf, steered California Legion to a Major League Rugby grand final in the USA and played a key role for North Harbour in NZ’s National Provincial Championship.
Beside Wallabies Carter Gordon and Tom Lynagh, Miln will add depth at No.10 with Australia U20s flyhalf Finn Mackay in rehab after major knee surgery in August.
The China Airlines Queensland Reds International Tour to Japan and Italy in November has given the Reds a sharp focus at this time of the year.
“We’ve had three good weeks of training, and there’s another in front of us, before we go on tour next week. Playing four games overseas will be a strong way to reinforce the style of game we want to put on the field next year,” Reds Head Coach Vern Cotter said.
“The Reds used 37 players during this year's Super Rugby season so we know how valuable a tour like this is. It will develop our depth and effective habits to take on a season that has been extended to 16 games (from 14 in the regular season).
“Players like Lachie Hooper, after an excellent season for Northland (in the NPC), are yet to join us. Izzy (Perese) has been fully involved in training for a good while now. Coby and Toby are new. Cadeyrn knows his way around Super Rugby. There is a lot of top-level experience in our Wallabies.
“It will be exciting to put all the pieces together and get the growth I see in this squad for the new season.”
The Reds face the Crusaders in Christchurch (February 12) in their opening match of 2027 before a bumper home game on Sunday afternoon against the Chiefs at Suncorp Stadium on February 21.
For Toby Brial, stepping into new surroundings is highly motivating and he’ll be training with familiar Australia U20 teammates like Taka, another on a Reds development deal, Will Ross and Treyvon Pritchard.
“I’d come through the academy in NSW since I was 14. I’m really excited to get out of my comfort zone and experience something different,” Brial said.
“I’ve heard good things about the culture at the Reds and how the strong connection between the boys means they are not here just for a job.
“The Reds have put a lot of effort into these tours overseas and that’s something where they are ahead of the other franchises.
“It will be different being in the same squad as my brother. When I was playing for NSW against Queensland in Roma recently, he was trying to run over the top of me and we were both trying to rub faces into the turf as a bit of fun.”
Miln played a single Super Rugby game for the Western Force in 2025 and knows his game has developed a lot since then.
“I’m really excited about this chance at the Reds. It wasn’t something I expected,” said Miln, a proven goalkicker.
“It was good to get a taste of Super Rugby at the Force and I’ve been desperate to get back to it.
“I know my game has grown. Playing in different environments is experience that has allowed me to think about rugby in different ways and work on a lot of things.”
2027 QUEENSLAND REDS SQUAD
HOOKERS
Matt Faessler - Brothers
Josh Nasser - University of Queensland
Zac Hough - University of Queensland
PROPS
Aidan Ross - Bond University
George Blake - Bond University
Tom Lambert - TBC
Kingsley Uys - Bond University
Zane Nonggorr - Bond University
Massimo De Lutiis - Wests
Trevor King - Souths
Nick Bloomfield - Easts
LOCKS
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto - Souths
Josh Canham - Bond University
Will Ross - Brothers
Cadeyrn Neville - TBC
Charlie Brosnan - Brothers
BACK ROW
Joe Brial - University of Queensland
Vaiuta Latu - Brothers
Tom Robinson - University of Queensland
John Bryant - Souths
Fraser McReight - Brothers
Toby Brial - TBC
Lachie Hooper - TBC
Harry Wilson - Brothers
HALFBACKS
Tate McDermott - University of Queensland
Kalani Thomas - Souths
James Martens - GPS
FLYHALVES
Carter Gordon - Wests
Tom Lynagh - University of Queensland
Finn Mackay - Souths
CENTRES
Isaac Henry - Wests
Dre Pakeho - Brothers
Izaia Perese - TBC
Xavier Rubens - Souths
Taione Taka - Brothers
OUTSIDE BACKS
Lachie Anderson - University of Queensland
Tim Ryan - Brothers
Nicholas Conway - Brothers
Treyvon Pritchard - Brothers
UTILITY
Filipo Daugunu - Sunnybank
Coby Miln - TBC
