Izack Rodda re-signs with St.George Queensland Reds through 2023

Wed, Sep 18, 2019, 12:00 AM
Reds Media Unit
by Reds Media Unit
The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) has today reinforced its strategy of retaining elite homegrown talent with confirmation Izack Rodda has signed a new four-year deal with the St.George Queensland Reds.

The imposing lock will remain both at Ballymore and in Australian Rugby through 2023 until the next Rugby World Cup in France.

The 23-year-old has represented the Wallabies in 21 Tests and has been selected in Australia’s squad for their upcoming World Cup campaign in Japan beginning on Saturday afternoon against Fiji in Sapporo.

Rodda is the tenth player to have now re-signed long-term deals with the Reds following the recent announcements of Taniela Tupou (2023), Tate McDermott (2023), Fraser McReight (2023), Angus Blyth (2023), Alex Mafi (2022), Harry Wilson (2023), Harry Hoopert (2022), Hamish Stewart (2022) and Jordan Petaia (2022).

It also follows Liam Wright, Angus Scott-Young, Bryce Hegarty, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Feao Fotuaika and Chris Feauai-Sautia all re-committing with Queensland for next season and beyond.

Reds lock Izack Rodda said: “It all started for me in Queensland, so it was a no-brainer to stay there for another four years.

“I’m excited to see what the future holds for this Reds team. We’ve all been together through that Queensland pathway. We’ve all come through together at U20s level and then progressed to NRC and then some made their Super Rugby debuts earlier than others, but we’re all now that same crew who went through with U20s.

“We’re all very close mates. There are good friendships there and we’re just going to keep building and looking forward to how we go as a team. I’ve been loving my time at the Reds creating friendships and it’s been great to learn under Thorny being an ex-secondrower who’s helped my game.

“It’s good to confirm and announce this before the World Cup starts this week so I can shift my focus on the Wallabies, but definitely excited and honoured to re-sign with Australian Rugby and the Reds for another four years,” said Rodda.

Reds head coach Brad Thorn said: “It’s great to see Izack Rodda re-sign for another four years.

“He’s developing into a leader on-and-off the field. He’s another guy who’s come through the Queensland system with Schoolboys, U20s and the NRC.

“At just 23, Izack has already played 21 Tests for Australia. He’s also about to represent his country at a World Cup which is a great achievement. We look forward to what the future holds for him,” said Thorn.

Rodda has established himself as a leader among his Queensland peers after he was handed the captaincy against the Chiefs in Hamilton during the 2019 Super Rugby season in Samu Kerevi’s absence.

The Ipswich Grammar product played 14 games for Queensland this season for a total of 41 Super Rugby caps with the Reds.

In his first full season of senior Rugby in 2016, Rodda represented both Queensland and Australia at U20s level, as well as Bond University Queensland Country where he was one of the standout locks in the National Rugby Championship (NRC).

Less than a year later, Rodda established himself as a regular starter for the Reds and showed enough throughout Super Rugby to earn his Test debut against the All Blacks in a nail-biting match in Dunedin, just six months after making his Queensland debut.

Izack Rodda

Position: Lock

Height: 202cm

Weight: 119kg

Born: 20/08/1996

Place of birth: Lismore, NSW

Senior Club: Easts

School: Ipswich Grammar School

Representative Honours: Queensland Schoolboys (2014), Australian Schoolboys (2014), Queensland U20s (2016), Australian U20s (2016), Queensland Country NRC (2016-), Queensland (2017-), Wallabies (2017-)

Super Rugby Debut: 2017 v Sharks, Brisbane (Queensland)

Super Rugby Caps: 41

Test Debut: 2017 v New Zealand, Dunedin (Australia)

Test Caps: 21 (Australia)

Share
Dropped before a debut: The three minutes that moulded Reds halfback Werchon
Queensland Reds make three changes for Anzac Weekend Round against the Blues
Jordan Petaia to miss remaining Super Rugby Pacific season following shoulder injury
"Humbled" Reds to honour Anzac family ties as coach calls for annual clash