In the latest shrewd bit of business by the Queensland Reds, Aidan Ross – the one-Test All Black, who debuted against Ireland in 2022 – will cross the ditch following next year’s Super Rugby season with the Chiefs and link up with Les Kiss’ side in mid-2025.
But before he runs out in Reds colours, Joe Schmidt might well be rubbing his hands together and thinking it could be via a gold jersey first. In fact, it’s understood the New Zealander played a role in ensuring the international prop was snapped up by an Australian side and, as such, has a national top up included in his two-year deal.
Indeed, having played his sole Test for the All Blacks on July 9, 2022, the Gosford-𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 29-year-old, who spent his first eight years on Australian shores, becomes eligible to play for the Wallabies a week before the first British and Irish Lions Test on July 19.
For a nation that has always been targeted at the scrum, Schmidt will be thrilled he’s got another option up his sleeve should he need to be immediately called upon too.
Although Ross has never been one to generate global headlines like Angus Bell or Taniela Tupou, the loose-head prop is the type of seasoned campaigner that every coach likes to have.
Having anchored the Chiefs’ scrum for years, Ross’ grizzly beard represents a man who knows a thing or two about the dark arts only discovered after packing down in thousands of scrums.
The 118kg former All Black has been a regular in the best Chiefs teams of recent seasons having played in the final of Super Rugby Pacific in 2023 and 2024 plus the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa decider.
While Ross didn’t say his decision to return to Australia was so that he could run out in gold, it won’t have been lost on him that former Blues prop Alex Hodgman became just the fourth player in Test history to play for the All Blacks and Wallabies after coming off the bench against Georgia in July.
He will have the chance to show what he’s made of when the Reds host the Lions in Brisbane on July 2.
“I’ve been at the Chiefs since day dot. I want the team to have a huge season in 2025 and finish in a big way because I owe so much to the franchise, the coaches and my teammates for moulding me as a rugby player,” Ross said.
“Beyond that it is a good time to do something different off-shore.
“The attraction with Australia is that I can go there and not be a foreign player. It’s appealing to also be close to family because my partner and I now have our own family with young (17-month-old) Albie.”
Ross will also be encouraged by the Reds’ development over the past 12 months, too.
While Brad Thorn’s Reds pulled off one of the biggest upsets of 2023 when they knocked over the Chiefs across the ditch, the arrival of Kiss and his impressive coaching team saw Queensland grow under new management.
Players of potential like Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson took their games to greater heights in 2024, while the set-piece became a weapon after years of underwhelming results under Thorn’s coaching set-up.
Zane Hilton’s arrival at the Reds is likely one of the reasons behind the improved set-piece play, with the forwards assistant one of the best young technical coaches in the country.
“The Reds have excellent facilities at Ballymore and I have respected the club’s DNA for a long time from some great wins and big losses when we have met on the field,” Ross said.
“After talking to their coaches I saw how appealing it would be to work under them.
“Like I said, that’s for the future. I’m all in with the Chiefs for next season.”
Ross will likely replace Sef Fa’agase, with the soon-to-be 34-year-old recently signing a one-year extension to keep the prop until the end of the 2025 season.
The Reds have arguably their best roster since Quade Cooper led Queensland to their one and only Super Rugby title in 2011.
Their rebuilding mission has been orchestrated by general manager Sam Cordingley, who has had an impressive couple of seasons at Ballymore.
