The Queensland Reds have announced a 29-player squad for their upcoming two-game tour of Japan, where they will face the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights.
The squad features a mix of experienced forwards and exciting new talent from the Brisbane club scene, aiming to challenge the Wild Knights in Kumagaya.
The Reds will depart for Japan on Thursday to compete in two fixtures. The first match will be played behind closed doors on Sunday with extended benches, followed by the feature match on Monday, November 4, for the Saitama-Queensland Shield.
The squad boasts over 350 Queensland caps, including Test players such as Tom Lynagh, Alex Hodgman, Matt Gibbon, Josh Nasser, Josh Canham, and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen.
Five standout players from the Brisbane club competition—Shaun Anderson, Sebastian Hanna, Kohan Herbert, Hamish Muller, and winger Matt Brice—have been included in the touring squad following impressive performances in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup and training sessions.
These players will have the opportunity to make their Reds debut during the Japan tour.
Heremaia Murray, a promising 24-year-old winger-centre set to join the Crusaders in 2024, will also be part of the tour as a player of interest.
Following the tour, seven Reds players, including Tom Lynagh, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Josh Nasser, and Josh Canham, will head to Europe to join the Australia XV squad for two matches in England.
“This is a good, solid squad with a real focus which the players have shown with their hard work over the past month,” Reds head coach Les Kiss said.
“That’s been essential to prepare for the great competitive relationship we have with the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights.
“We value the history our two clubs have developed and the opportunity this creates for both clubs to look at exciting talent hungry for chances.”
Queensland Reds squad:
Backs: Louis Werchon, Kalani Thomas, Will Cartwright, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tom Lynagh, Heremaia Murray, Matt Brice, Dre Pakeho, Frankie Goldsbrough, Floyd Aubrey, Shaun Anderson, Sebastian Hanna, Mason Gordon
Forwards: Alex Hodgman, Sef Fa’agase, Matt Gibbon, Josh Nasser, Richie Asiata, George Blake, Massimo De Lutiis, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Ryan Smith, Connor Vest, Josh Canham, Taine Roiri, Kohan Herbert, Max Craig, Joe Brial, Hamish Muller