You only have to spy the new "Postcard of Venice" tattoo on the arm of Louis Werchon to realise how much he's enjoying his time with Italian club Benetton Rugby.
The visionary partnership which has enabled Queensland Reds trio Werchon, John Bryant and Richie Asiata to head to Benetton Rugby on secondment since July has been highly productive.
Searching out more top-flight rugby in Europe's United Rugby Championship (URC) to advance the players has been a definite tick to go with gaining experience and worldly maturity in a whole new environment overseas.
Halfback Werchon is the poster boy for the success of the idea.
After playing just 14 minutes of Super Rugby Pacific in 2025 because Tate McDermott and Kalani Thomas were in such good form, he played four games for Benetton Rugby in the September-October period. Make that six with two trials.
He has now been given approval to stay on for another four games so he returns to Brisbane in the first week of January.
"Game time. That's been the greatest benefit and it has been a lot of high-quality rugby," Werchon said over the phone from Treviso.
"The footy is not better or worse than Super Rugby. It's just different with more kicking to do as a halfback and more set-piece.
"I've always worked on my box kicking so that has definitely paid off within the way the team likes to control games."
Werchon and Bryant share a second floor apartment, a two-minute drive from the club's training centre in Treviso. Hooker Asiata, troubled by a calf niggle during his stay, was in an apartment on the same floor until be returned home early.
Werchon is now a devoted fan of Cacio e Pepe, a cheese and pepper pasta, while Bryant's spaghetti carbonara-making skills have definitely improved without yet making him a candidate for MasterChef.
"I haven't really picked up too many Italian habits. I know the Italian guys in our team like learning a few short Aussie slang expressions like '(What you) up to'," Werchon said with a laugh.
"It's more the food I'm into."
Werchon was at the heart of the most pulsating win of the season to date for Benetton Rugby at their home ground at Stadio Comunale di Monigo with its atmospheric close quarters for 5000 fans.
Werchon snapped a perfect pass back to fullback Rhyno Smith, who slotted a long-range field goal to sink Glasgow Warriors 16-14.
Werchon's fan following certainly spiked after that.
"The Benetton fans are really cool and supportive. That was a big moment. It's funny. Three weeks before, we practised moving the ball side to side and setting up in the middle for a shot. We never thought we'd have to use it," Werchon said.
"We have a lot of different nationalities (11) in the squad. Rhyno is South African and I have really good Argentinian and English No.10s as well.
"We also have Louis Lynagh in the Benetton squad and he talks all the time. He's the complete opposite to Tommy Lynagh at the Reds.
"The whole experience with the squad and travelling to play in Ireland, Scotland and Ulster (this week) has been really good."
Bryant's initial games against South Africa's Lions and Edinburgh had the same impact.
"I'm enjoying it all. The facilities are good. The boys in the squad are good value and more game time at this higher level is what it is all about," Bryant said.
"You play on an artificial pitch in Edinburgh and that's different conditions to anything you get back home.
"I've put extra time into my jackal work and being a nuisance in rucks. The ball carry and tackling...you are always working on those skills.
"We have a lot of internationals in the Benetton squad, like backrower Seb Negri who has played for Italy. There are lots of things you can pick up.
"The whole trip has been a great experience. I'd definitely encourage the Reds to do it again for more young players."
The partnership between the Reds and Benetton Rugby blossomed after an initial introduction earlier this year through Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, who won a championship with both the Reds (1994) and Benetton Treviso (1991-92).
Sam Cordingley, the Queensland Reds General Manager, High Performance, and Antonio Pavanello, General Manager of Benetton Rugby, started discussions in January in Treviso when the Reds were on their tour of Europe.
“The connection was made through Michael Lynagh. Right from the start, we have felt a genuine will to create opportunities that can benefit two proud clubs and two strong brands,” Cordingley said.
"Mutual benefits will drive this partnership.
“The wonderful experiences through secondments like this will not only support player development, with more matches outside Super Rugby, but also retention. The players have also added depth in key positions at Benetton Rugby.
“Rather than players leaving the club to experience chances like this, we are creating something unique while they are still Reds players with secondments at a famous club in a beautiful part of Italy."
