The Queensland Reds and Rugby Australia are thrilled to announce the signing of centre Izaia Perese, who returns to Australia on a deal through 2028.
The explosive, power-running traits of Perese will add instantly to the Reds with the six-Test Wallaby joining the squad at Ballymore this week.
Perese, 29, is back in his home state where his professional rugby journey began with a Reds debut as a 19-year-old in 2017.
He played 17 Super Rugby matches for the Reds in 2017-18 and returns with a wealth of experience. He has since played more than 90 matches in all for French Top 14 club Bayonne, NSW Waratahs, English Premiership heavyweights Leicester Tigers, the Barbarians and the Wallabies.
His six Tests for the Wallabies include an impressive outing against Portugal in his single match as part of the 2023 Rugby World Cup squad in France.
Highly regarded for his aggressive ball-carrying, footwork and hard-hitting defence, Perese’s return is a boost for Queensland and the national depth chart ahead of next year’s World Cup on home soil.
Perese is delighted to reconnect with Australian rugby and his first club on a two-year deal. "I thought my journey was overseas and that was going to be me for the rest of my career. In Australia, in Queensland, is where I want to be and excited is an understatement," Perese said.
"It's an exciting time for rugby in Australia as a whole. The Rugby World Cup next year is obviously a goal but what comes first is playing good rugby here at the Reds.
"Playing for your country is the pinnacle. All I can do to get back there is solely going to come from doing my job to the best of my ability for Queensland."
With four young children, Perese said the attraction of playing again in Australia had great appeal.
"Queensland is home for me and my family. I spent two years at Leicester and it was quite challenging as a young family to have no support. I'm home and now having a support network around us is a huge factor as to why I chose the Reds," Perese said.
"Second of all, it's the cattle we've got at the Reds. Ballymore and the training facilities are unreal because the place has changed so much since I was first here. I think next year is a good year to challenge for trophies."
Perese said Australian rugby should expect a more experienced and mature package to go with his trademark power and running game.
"I'm not going to go away from my strengths but going to the UK definitely made me a more rounded player who understands the game a lot more," Perese said.
"Defence, kick chase, more games under the belt in different environments...they are some of the little things. You can expect more."
Having represented the Australian Schoolboys in 2014 and the Australia Under-20s in 2016, Perese made his Super Rugby debut as Reds player #1309 in 2017 when coming off the bench against the Western Force in Perth.
His promise was spotted early when he toured as a non-playing development player with the Wallabies in 2016. It was five years later that he made his Test debut against Scotland in Edinburgh in 2021.
Sam Cordingley, Reds General Manager, High Performance, said the Queensland Rugby Union is delighted to have signed Perese.
"It's great to welcome Izzy back to the Reds. He brings a wealth of experience from his time in the French Top 14 and English Premiership so he'll be a great addition to our squad over the next few years,” Cordingley said.
Rugby Australia’s Director of High Performance Peter Horne said: “We are pleased to welcome Izaia back to Australian Rugby at a pivotal time for the game.
“He is a powerful athlete who is experienced and motivated to contribute to Queensland and the wider Australian system. “His signing reflects our focus on strengthening our depth and ensuring our best athletes are playing their rugby here in Australia."
Position: Centre-winger
Height: 1.78cm
Weight: 94kg
Born: 17/05/1997
Place of birth: Brisbane
School: Wavell State High/Anglican Church Grammar School Senior
Club: TBC
Junior Club: Norths Barbarians
Queensland debut: 2017 v Western Force in Perth
Queensland caps: 17 (4 tries)
Super Rugby caps: 63 (Reds 17-NSW Waratahs 46)
Tests: 6
Test debut: 2021 v Scotland in Edinburgh
