The Queensland Reds have secured the services of hooker Matt Faessler and scrumhalf Kalani Thomas through 2025.
After debuting for Queensland last year, Toowoomba product Faessler capped his maiden season with an Australia A call-up and has already played 21 games for his state. He was selected in his first Wallabies squad last week, spending three days in camp on the Gold Coast.
Still only 20-years-old, Thomas has played 27 games for the Reds, throwing the final pass to seal the Reds’ Super Rugby AU title in 2021. The two-year deal will see the scrumhalf eligible to play in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship (NPC) at the end of this year’s Super Rugby season, following in the footsteps of University of Queensland and Reds clubmate Connor Vest.
Faessler said: “I am thrilled to be re-signing with the Reds for another two years, the team that I grew up supporting.
“I’m loving playing Super Rugby and I have a lot of mates in the squad having played junior, representative and senior Rugby with them.
“I'm extremely appreciative of the support and advice from Thorny and the coaches. They have been very helpful with my growth over the last few years.
"The call-up to Wallabies camp was unreal. It was an intense few days and I learnt a bucket load.”
Thomas said: “I’m grateful to be staying at Ballymore for the next two seasons.
“We’ve got a tight-knit group at the Reds and I really enjoy coming to training and getting better every day.
“It’s great to learn from a scrumhalf like Tate McDermott and I’m looking forward to challenging him and the other scrumhalves over the next two years."
Reds General Manager – Professional Rugby Sam Cordingley said: “Kalani and Matt are another two genuine products of the Queensland pathway, it’s pleasing to see them re-sign.
“After a number of years playing club Rugby and NRC, Matt has taken to Super Rugby and we’re looking forward to seeing his career progress.
"Kalani is still a young halfback but he is continuing to have a significant positive impact on the games he plays in. It’s great to have him re-committed to Queensland Rugby for the next few years.
"I’d like to make special mention of UQ Rugby’s support in retaining Kalani though this unique contract arrangement."
A Queensland schoolboys and Australian Barbarians representative, Faessler represented the Junior Wallabies at the 2018 World U20s Championships in France.
The Toowoomba Grammar School product plied his trade for Brothers in Queensland Premier Rugby and with Queensland Country in the National Rugby Championship (NRC), before earning a pre-season shot at Ballymore in 2021.
He has scored six tries in 21 games for Queensland and was selected in Eddie Jones' first Wallabies squad this season after starting in every match for the Reds.
Born in Darwin, Thomas played his junior Rugby at the Springfield Hawks and Souths Rugby Club, finishing his schooling years with Australian Schools and U18s selection at Ipswich Grammar School.
After progressing through the Queensland Rugby pathway with the Reds Academy, Thomas made his Super Rugby debut in 2021 and has been a fixture in the Reds matchday-23 in the seasons since, working in tandem with co-captain Tate McDermott.
2021 saw Thomas help the University of Queensland to the StoreLocal Hospital Cup title, while he represented the Junior Wallabies in last year’s Oceania Championships on the Sunshine Coast.
Thomas was also a part of the Australia A squad who toured Fiji in 2022.
