The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) has today confirmed club captain Liam Wright and defensive workhorse Angus Scott-Young have secured their future with the St.George Queensland Reds for next season.
After both brought up their 50th caps for Queensland this year, the backrow duo will remain at Ballymore through 2022.
It sees the Reds pre-season retention tally total 11 players following recent re-signing announcements from exciting backline prospects Mac Grealy, Kalani Thomas, Isaac Henry and Lawson Creighton, Fijian pairing Seru Uru and Ilaisa Droaese, plus frontrow trio Dane Zander, Feao Fotuaika and Richie Asiata.
“I love playing in Queensland. I’m excited to keep chasing success with this group and I’m hungry for more time in the maroon jersey alongside good mates,” said Wright.
"I’m really excited to be re-signing with the Reds. We achieved something special in Super Rugby AU this year and I’m looking forward to this team going to the next level in 2022 and for me to deliver performances that makes Queensland proud,” added Scott-Young.
Reds General Manager – Professional Rugby Sam Cordingley said: “We are all really pleased that Liam and Angus have committed.
“They are both now 50 cap Reds and managing leadership roles which make them important to the program.
"Angus had his best year in a maroon jersey in 2021 and continues to improve areas of his game.
“Liam’s injury following his first Test season must have been difficult for him, but his application got him back to playing ahead of time to be involved in our title win.
"There’s no doubt that both of them will be out to prove a point ahead of the Rugby World Cup – which will be great for the Reds in 2022."
Wright and Scott-Young have played alongside each other since they were teenagers at Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane and have gone-on to achieve much success together.
They were both a part of Queensland’s breakthrough 2021 Super Rugby title playing in the domestic competition’s Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium.
They also won back-to-back U20s titles with Queensland in 2016/2017 and claimed the National Rugby Championship (NRC) title with Queensland Country in 2017 before both made their Super Rugby debuts for Queensland the following year.
Wright made his Queensland debut in the Reds’ opening Super Rugby match of 2018 and in just his second season of Super Rugby, finished runner-up for the 2019 Pilecki Medal after polling 228 votes across the season.
He was handed the Queensland captaincy for the 2020 Super Rugby season where his leadership both on-and-off the field shone as the Reds reached the Super Rugby AU Grand Final following a tumultuous year full of challenges courtesy of COVID-19.
Wright was sidelined for the majority of this year’s Super Rugby AU season with a foot injury suffered in the Reds’ pre-season fixture against New South Wales but remained Queensland’s club captain.
He made his playing return against the Brumbies in Round 8 where he shared the on-field captaincy with James O’Connor that culminated in the pair lifting the Super Rugby AU trophy as the 2021 champions.
As either co-captain or as Queensland’s sole skipper, the 23-year-old played every match of the Trans-Tasman competition that saw him celebrate his 50th game for Queensland in Round 2 against the Crusaders at home.
Scott-Young debuted for Queensland in the very next round after Wright made his Reds debut back in 2018.
Playing in his fourth season, the 24-year-old celebrated his 50th Queensland cap against the Waratahs in Sydney during Round 6 of this year’s Super Rugby AU competition.
He was one of only two squad members to have played in each of Queensland’s 14 games this past season that included starting in 13 matches.
Scott-Young’s standout 2021 Super Rugby season was recognised at last weekend’s end of season Awards Lunch where he was crowned the Reds best defensive player, finished 3rd for the Pilecki Medal and also received the Spirit of the Reds award for his exemplary attitude of what it means to represent Queensland.
