The Queensland Reds have swooped to sign Chiefs and All Blacks prop Aidan Ross from July 2025.
The 29-year-old makes the timely switch which could see him feature against the British and Irish Lions next year as he qualifies to represent Australia having last played for the All Blacks in July 2022.
Reds sign All Blacks prop
A powerful scrummager, Ross has been the cornerstone in the Chiefs’ pack over the last few years and featured for the side in the 2023 and 2024 Super Rugby Pacific finals as well as the Aotearoa decider in 2021.
Bon in Gosford, north of Sydney, Ross spent the first eight years of his life in Australia before his New Zealand parents move the family back to Aotearoa.
The prop will play one more season with the Chiefs before joining the Reds in July, but his move could provide a timely boost for Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt.
“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.”
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Eligibility timeline
The loosehead prop played once for the All Blacks in 2022 making his Test debut against Ireland in Dunedin.
Due to World Rugby Regulation 8.6, Ross will requalify for Australia on 9 July 2025.
The regulation states: “8.6 A Player who has represented one Union (as set out in Regulation 8.2 to 8.4) may apply to represent a new Union provided that:
(i) the Player meets the eligibility criteria set out in Regulation 8.1(a) or 8.1(b) in relation to the new Union; and
(ii) at least three years have passed since the Player last represented their former Union; and
(iii) the approval of World Rugby is obtained.
His move to the Reds means he could well play against the Lions in the midweek clash on 2 July next year with the first Test match between the Wallabies and tourists taking place on 19 July when he is eligible against for Australia.
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