Recruits Izaia Perese and Cadeyrn Neville will make their return to the maroon jersey in the squad named today for the China Airlines Queensland Reds International Tour of Japan and Italy.
The power-running Perese and towering lock Neville have been selected in a 31-man squad which will tackle four matches in November.
Perese, Neville, Matt Faessler, Aidan Ross, Zane Nonggorr and Tom Lynagh are the six players injecting Wallabies’ experience into the squad. The well-travelled Perese is eyeing his first appearance for the Reds since 2018 while Neville last played for the club in 2017.
Joe Brial, Tim Ryan and Lachie Anderson are also Australia A representatives from the just-completed tour to the USA.
With new head Coach Vern Cotter in charge, the tour offers a huge opportunity for established players, new recruits and young guns to press for roles when the 2027 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season kicks off in February.
“This tour will be a significant contributor to our ambitions for 2027. The players should be excited. They should be motivated. There is some good rugby to play and some effective habits to keep building,” Cotter said.
“There will be plenty of energy to this squad. There are a lot of emerging players who want to make a mark in this game.”
The tour opens on Saturday with a trial against partner club Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in Ota before a full cap game against the Wild Knights in Kumagaya on November 14.
The tour squad will then fly to Italy. A match against an Italy XV on November 20 will be followed by the inaugural Lynagh Cup clash against partner club Benetton Rugby on November 27. Both games will be played in Treviso.
"One of our consistent aims at the Reds is to provide players with more opportunities to develop in games outside Super Rugby," said Sam Cordingley, Reds General Manager, High Performance.
"Touring and the international aspect of rugby are a unique offering. We are leaning into that because the squad cohesion you build and experience against different styles of rugby are real positives.
"We have formed wonderful partnerships with the Wild Knights and Benetton Rugby and the tour will benefit all parties."
Backrowers Lachie Hooper and Toby Brial plus utility back Coby Miln are fresh faces to join squad training at Ballymore in recent weeks.
Centre Taione Taka, 18, and prop Kingsley Uys, 18, are the youngest selected in the squad. Both have shown their ability for the victorious Australia Under-18s against the New Zealand Schoolboys either this year or in 2025.
Young lock Will Ross, 19, and fullback-winger Nick Conway, 19, are also graduates of the Australia U18s with the chance to debut for the Reds on tour. Conway has been an exuberant spark on field at training since his return from a back issue.
Backline talent Treyvon Pritchard has been included in the squad as he continues his recovery from the broken leg he sustained in a hip drop tackle in July while playing for the Australia U20s. On tour, he will have access to a more intense rehabilitation program from the Reds' strength & conditioning and medical staff.
He is on target to be available to return to play late in the tour. He broke through with 12 Super Rugby games for the Reds this year.
Centre Josh Takai and halfback Cooper Stewart are uncapped products of the Buildcorp Reds Academy who took their first steps in preparation during the Super Rugby AUS series.
For Mosiah Christian, a Reds debut as one of two halfbacks on tour, is a pinch-me prospect after a superb season for his club Norths.
Backrower Tom Robinson summed up the feeling ahead of Wednesday’s departure for Japan.
“It’s very exciting. For a lot of guys, it will be their first full tour with the Reds,” Robinson said.
“Getting more match minutes, trying to finish the season well and setting myself up for next year are all goals for me.”
George Blake - Bond University
Nick Bloomfield - Easts
Joe Brial – University of Queensland
Toby Brial - TBC
Charlie Brosnan - Brothers
John Bryant - Souths
Matt Faessler - Brothers
Lachlan Hooper - TBC
Zac Hough - University of Queensland
Trevor King - Souths
Vaiuta Latu - Brothers
Cadeyrn Neville - TBC
Zane Nonggorr - Bond University
Tom Robinson - University of Queensland
Aidan Ross - Bond University
Will Ross - Brothers
Harrison Usher - Bond University
Kingsley Uys - Bond University
Lachie Anderson - University of Queensland
Mosiah Christian - Norths
Nick Conway - Brothers
Tom Lynagh - University of Queensland
Coby Miln - TBC
Dre Pakeho - Brothers
Izaia Perese - Easts
Treyvon Pritchard - Brothers
Xavier Rubens - Souths
Tim Ryan - Brothers
Cooper Stewart - University of Queensland
Taione Taka - Brothers
Josh Takai - Brothers
