Promising prop Trevor King has been elevated to the senior squad of the Queensland Reds to coincide with today’s unveiling of a 31-man outfit for the Super Rugby AUS competition.
King, 20, has been signed on a two-year deal through 2027 to secure one of the country’s best front-row prospects.
King’s three campaigns with the Australian Under-20s at the World Rugby U20s Championships is a rare achievement. In doing so, he has earned an early taste of international rugby and the variety of scrummaging styles that come with it.
Of Fijian heritage, the powerful 125kg prop played his junior rugby with the Gladstone Gruffs before developing his game with Downlands College in Toowoomba.
His recent Reds debut against Tonga in Nuku’alofa gave a glimpse of his potential when he was called on for a lengthy stint as a replacement.
“I drive home from training sometimes and pinch myself that I have come this far with my rugby,” King said.
“I was a kid who started his rugby in a country town with a small club.
“The chance to train with and against the Reds this year has really helped my development along with the coaching through the Reds Academy.
“I might have been thinking of 10 or 15 minutes off the bench against Tonga but an injury gave me the chance to play more than an hour. There’s a lot of hard work to come but I’m ready for it and want to give it a real crack.”
Reds assistant coach Zane Hilton said King’s progress and future is exciting.
“Trevor is a really dynamic player on both sides of the ball. We’ve seen his raw, natural ability to carry the ball and his work on defence,” Hilton said.
“He’s shown that during his three years in the Australian U20s program and since coming into Premier Rugby with Souths as a teenager.
“To come through our pathways and the Academy program at the Reds to this chance in the top squad is exciting.
“What’s been pleasing over the past couple of years is Trevor really nailing down and enjoying the learning of his craft with the set piece skills.
“He’s taken on that challenge against the top props in our Reds squad. Against Tonga, he gave us a fantastic 65 minutes off the bench against a world-class Tongan front-row.”
The Reds open the Super Rugby AUS competition against the ACT Brumbies at Ballymore Stadium on Sunday, September 14.
Matches follow against the NSW Waratahs in Narrabri (September 20), as part of the Santos Festival of Rugby, and against the Western Force in Perth (September 28) as the Reds bid to reach the final.
The 31-man Reds squad includes the eight players who made Reds debuts in August in Tonga…flanker Tom Robinson, hooker Theo Fourie, halfback James Martens, centre Xavier Rubens, prop Ollie Harris, utility forward Charlie Brosnan, fullback Will McCulloch and King.
The squad also includes high-performers from the StoreLocal Hospital Cup competition and Buildcorp Reds Academy such as Souths flanker Kohan Herbert, University of Queensland lock Jack Brady, Brothers backrower Vice Latu and Bond University’s premiership prop Harrison Usher.
Super Rugby AUS creates a valuable competitive level to advance players post-Super Rugby Pacific. The Reds have also taken destiny into their own hands with hooker Richie Asiata, backrower John Bryant and halfback Louis Werchon on secondment to the Benetton Rugby club in Italy.
A match against the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights at Ballymore on October 25 is a further dimension of the Reds International Program.
Reds Head Coach Les Kiss is upbeat about what Super Rugby AUS will offer.
“We really welcome this important third-tier of rugby in the form of Super Rugby AUS to provide playing opportunities at a higher level,” Reds Head Coach Les Kiss said.
“It’s also great for our professional rugby department to continue to work day-to-day in advancing our program.
“Players like Tom Robinson and James Martens are among the young players who will get more exposure. There are also chances for some standouts from club rugby like Kohan Herbert, Hamish Muller and Harrison Usher.
“It will be a competitive league, exactly what Australian rugby needs to build.”
QUEENSLAND REDS SQUAD (for Super Rugby AUS)
Lachie Anderson – University of Queensland
George Blake – Bond University
Jack Brady – University of Queensland
Joe Brial – University of Queensland
Charlie Brosnan - Brothers
Jock Campbell – University of Queensland
Will Cartwright - Brothers
Massimo De Lutiis - Wests
Sef Fa'agase - Sunnybank
Theo Fourie - Brothers
Ollie Harris - Norths
Isaac Henry - Wests
Kohan Herbert - Souths
Zac Hough – University of Queensland
Trevor King - Souths
Vice Latu - Brothers
James Martens - GPS
Will McCulloch - Norths
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips - Wests
Hamish Muller - Brothers
Heremaia Murray – Bond University
Dre Pakeho - Brothers
Tom Robinson – University of Queensland
Aidan Ross – Bond University
Xavier Rubens - Souths
Tim Ryan - Brothers
Kalani Thomas – University of Queensland
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen - Norths
Seru Uru - Souths
Harrison Usher – Bond University
Connor Vest - Souths
