The Queensland Reds have continued to build their roster for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, re-signing outside back Mac Grealy and signing scrumhalf Louis Werchon.
Still just 21-years-old, Toowoomba product Grealy debuted for Queensland in 2021 and has played 14 matches for his state.
Werchon made his Queensland debut against the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in 2022 and spent much of last season training with the Reds squad at Ballymore.
Queensland Reds head coach Les Kiss said: “Mac and Louis are two great products of our Queensland Rugby pathway coming from the Darling Downs and Sunshine Coast respectively.
“Mac’s an exciting young player who still has plenty of improvement and development in him. He was exceptional in the Queensland Rugby Challenger Series and we’re looking forward to seeing him carry this into 2024.
“Louis is another dynamic player and we feel he can bring a lot to our squad. He’ll learn plenty working alongside a scrumhalf like Tate McDermott.”
Grealy said: “I’m really grateful to be sticking around at Ballymore next season.
“I have a great relationship with a lot of the players and staff and look forward to continuing with this group through 2024.
“I’m excited to learn from the new coaching staff throughout preseason and am really motivated to impress and put my hand up again for Super Rugby in 2024.”
Werchon said: “I am honoured to be selected as part of the 2024 Reds squad for the upcoming season.
“It’s been a dream of mine to play the game I love since as long as I can remember, especially with a group of players I have looked up to for such a long time.
“It will be great to work with Tate especially, not only as a halfback but also coming from the same background growing up on the Sunny Coast and going to Sunshine Coast Grammar.”
Grealy played his junior Rugby with Souths Kookaburras in Toowoomba and went on to captain the Downlands College First XV in 2019.
The hot-stepping outside back joined the Queensland Reds squad in 2020 and was named the Queensland U20s player of the year that season, before making his Super Rugby debut in the fullback jersey against the Blues in 2021.
Grealy played six matches this season, while exceptional form in the Queensland Rugby Challenger Series further showcased the 21-year-old’s potential.
Werchon is another product of regional Queensland having attended Sunshine Coast Grammar School, the same school as fellow blonde-haired scrumhalf and now Reds co-captain McDermott.
Werchon represented his state and country at junior level in both Fifteens and Sevens Rugby, while he was part of the Reds Academy after finishing school in 2019.
The 21-year-old debuted for Queensland in Japan last year, although is still yet to feature at Super Rugby level.
Mac Grealy
- Position: Outside back
- Height: 180cm
- Weight: 89kg
- Born: 06/03/2002
- Place of birth: Toowoomba, Queensland
- Senior Club: University of Queensland
- School: Downlands College, Toowoomba
- Junior Club: Souths Kookaburras Toowoomba
- Queensland debut: 04/06/2021 v Blues, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
- Queensland caps: 15
Louis Werchon
- Position: Scrumhalf
- Height: 177cm
- Weight: 82kg
- Born: 25/10/2002
- Place of birth: Nambour, Queensland
- Senior Club: Wests
- Junior Club: Maroochydore Swans
- School: Sunshine Coast Grammar School
- Queensland debut: 04/11/2022 v Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Saitama
- Queensland caps: 1
