Super Rugby stalwart Aidan Ross is to link with the Queensland Reds on a multi-year deal from mid-2025.
The Queensland Rugby Union is delighted to today announce that the loosehead prop has been signed from July, 2025 to the end of 2027.
Ross, 29, has been a powerful fixture in the front-row at the Chiefs since 2017 and is committed to a strong Super Rugby Pacific season at the franchise in 2025.
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.
Ross is eligible for Australia in July because of his birth in Gosford, north of Sydney. He spent the first eight years of his life in Australia before his New Zealand parents moved the family to Tauranga.
His own young family is now one of the reasons he is exploring the broader opportunities that rugby has to offer.
“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 reached a career high by playing for the All Blacks against Ireland in 2022.
His ambitions remain strong. He contributed a try in Bay of Plenty’s recent loss to Wellington in the tense final of the Bunnings NPC final in Wellington.
“I’ve had a gutful of finishing second so one ambition is pretty clear,” Ross said.
Ross made a quick two-day visit to Brisbane during the off-season to check out the set-up at what was then his potential future home. He has chosen to come to Queensland.
“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 (head coach Les Kiss and assistant Zane Hilton) 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.”
Position: Loosehead prop
Height: 1.89m
Weight: 118kg
Born: 25/10/1995
Birthplace: Gosford, Australia
Senior Clubs: Chiefs, Bay of Plenty
School: Otumoetai College, Tauranga
Test Matches: 1 (New Zealand)
Test Debut: 2022 v Ireland, Dunedin
Super Rugby debut: 2017 v Western Force, Perth
Super Rugby caps: 88 (Chiefs)
Super Rugby points: 15 (3 tries)
