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17 Wallabies included in Queensland Reds’ star-studded UK Tour squad
By Finn Morton
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and backrower Fraser McReight headline a star-studded 34-man Queensland Reds squad for the club’s momentous pre-season tour where they’ll face English club Bristol and Irish side Ulster in the United Kingdom.
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With the new Super Rugby Pacific season mere weeks away, the Reds will fly out from Bristol on Friday ahead of matches with Bristol on January 31 and Ulster on February 7. This is important preparation for the Reds, who kick off their season against Moana Pasifika on February 21.
Coach Les Kiss has included 17 Wallabies in the Reds’ touring squad, including club co-captains Tate McDermott and Liam Wright. Jock Campbell, Tom Lynagh, Alex Hodgman, Hunter Paisami and the club’s 2024 Rookie of the Year Tim Ryan have also been named.
There are about 30 days between now and the start of the Reds’ 2025 season at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium against Ardie Savea’s Moana side. Before the 2025 campaign gets underway, coach Kiss is excited about the benefits of taking on “two of Europe’s top clubs.”
“Hats off to the players and staff for getting us ready to take the Reds style to the other side of the world to, first, play Bristol, one of the leading clubs in this season’s English Premiership,” Kiss said in a statement.
“Our second game is an Irish challenge against Ulster. We’re going to experience a tough environment where the Ulster fans are celebrating 100 years of rugby at their Ravenhill home.
“These experiences are what make rugby the game it is. The International Program we have created for Queensland rugby is something we are very keen to continue into the future.
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“We see all the upsides of touring together and playing in different conditions against varied opponents as giving us a strong prep for our first game against Moana Pasifika at Suncorp Stadium.”
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Bristol is currently second on the English Premiership ladder with 35 competition points, while Bath sits in pole position with 41 after 10 matches so far. Saracens and Leicester round out the top four at the time of writing.
The Bears started their season with a clinical 24-3 win over Newcastle before going down swinging 44-41 to Gloucester. They’ve since beaten Bath, Exeter, Northampton, Harlequins and Leicester – a record of six wins and four losses to date.
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As for Ulster, the Irish side is midtable in the United Rugby Championship with four wins from their nine matches. With wins over defending champions Glasgow Warriors, Connacht (twice) and Ospreys, they’ll no doubt prove to be a tough test for the Reds early next month.
“Our players are absolutely pumped to go on this tour. It’s also a great opportunity for our staff who rarely get this experience,” Kiss added.
“For Tom (Lynagh) and Harry (McLaughlin-Phillips), it’s a chance to build their knowledge on how the game can be run a different way in different conditions.
“For young forwards like John Bryant and Joe Bryant and Joe Brial, it’s an opportunity to see the way backrowers player the game up in the UK.
“There is strong development possible for all our players and the Reds as a team.”
Queensland Reds 2025 UK Tour Squad
Lachie Anderson
Richie Asiata
George Blake
Angus Blyth
Joe Brial
John Bryant
Jock Campbell
Josh Canham
Filipo Daugunu
Massimo De Lutiis
Sef Fa’agase
Matt Faessler
Josh Flook
Frankie Goldsbrough
Mason Gordon
Alex Hodgman
Tom Lynagh
Tate McDermott
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
Fraser McReight
Heremaia Murray
Josh Nasser
Zane Nonggorr
Hunter Paisami
Dre Pakeho
Tim Ryan
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Ryan Smith
Kalani Thomas
Seru Uru
Connor Vest
Louis Werchon
Harry Wilson
Liam Wright
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Might get a bit of game time too, I assume they've only recently joined the squad for pre season so they'd need to go along with the team otherwise theyred be really underdone.
I read in the Sydney Herald theyre looking at getting some ex Super Rugby/Wallaby players back for each teams July build up for their Lions fixtures. Who could Queensland add to their squad, Cooper, O'Connor, Kerevi, Marika? Guess it depends who which Wallabies they think are likely to be kept out of that QL fixture?