The St.George Queensland Reds post-season squad retention has continued after securing Seru Uru and Ilaisa Droasese through 2023.
The Fijian duo will remain at Ballymore for the next two seasons, while utility back Lawson Creighton has also re-committed with Queensland through 2022.
After making his Reds debut last year, Uru enjoyed a standout 2021 Super Rugby AU season that saw him named in a Wallabies’ Players of National Interest camp earlier this year.
Droasese debuted in Queensland’s opening match of 2021 against the Waratahs and quickly set Super Rugby alight after scoring his maiden try moments after coming on off the bench, while Creighton was unlucky not to pull on the maroon this year after breaking his leg playing Queensland Premier Rugby for Brothers.
“I’m excited to stay in Queensland for another two seasons,” said Uru.
“I’ve got a lot of good mates here. As a group we all want to build on this year’s success moving forward together.”
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to re-sign with the Reds,” Droasese said.
“I was very proud to wear the Queensland jersey this year. I’m excited to stay at the Reds with some good friends and continue to develop my skills under the coaching staff here.”
“After picking up an injury this season, I am grateful that Thorny and the coaches here are backing me,” said Creighton.
“I’m ready to prove myself again come pre-season and will push for that maroon jersey next year.”
Reds General Manager – Professional Rugby Sam Cordingley said: “Lawson has shown a great deal of resilience over the last number of seasons and his performances for Brothers have been outstanding – his contract is just reward for effort.
"Seru and Ilaisa are great stories and we have to give a lot of credit to our Queensland Premier Rugby clubs for their recruitment and development.
"Easts recruited Seru from Melbourne’s Dewar Shield a number of years ago and he has gone on to show his potential in Super Rugby. Ilaisa has progressed to playing Super Rugby from Wests colts in two years which again shows the strength of our club programs.
"Importantly both Ilaisa and Seru qualify for Australian representation now, so we are really proud of the contribution that our Fijian-born Reds are making to Queensland Rugby."
After impressing for Easts and also for Brisbane City in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) during the 2019 season, Uru was signed by Queensland and went on to debut for the Reds against the Brumbies at GIO Stadium in their opening match of the 2020 Super Rugby season.
The versatile lock/backrower played just two games last year before representing Queensland in every match of their 2021 Super Rugby AU campaign, plus a further three Trans-Tasman matches to sit currently with 14 caps for Queensland.
Droasese fast made a name for himself in Fiji and it wasn’t long before he caught the eye of Reds Academy and Queensland coaching staff in Brisbane.
He represented his home country at both Schoolboys and U20s level and proved just as damaging in the game’s smaller format – winning the Lote Tuqiri medal as the best player in the U19s division at the 2018 Fijian Coral Coast 7s tournament.
He moved from Fiji to Brisbane in 2018 and played colts for Wests and also Queensland Country U19s, before he was selected the following year for Brisbane City in the NRC under Reds assistant coach Jim McKay.
After making his Queensland debut in Round 1 of Super Rugby AU this year, the 21-year-old went on to play five matches for the Reds in 2021.
A proud Brothers clubman and Queensland pathway product, Creighton also played for Brisbane City in the NRC alongside Uru and Droasese before being brought into the Reds squad on a short-term contract at the start of this year.
