Liam Wright is to farewell the Queensland Reds after creating an impressive mark as a captain and backrower across eight seasons.
At 27, Wright is excited for what is next in his rugby journey which will now be paired with a Master of Business degree he completes this week at QUT.
Wright reflects proudly on his time in Queensland, saying, while it’s difficult to leave, he’s thankful for the opportunities and relationships built.
Wright played 86 times for the Reds since his debut in 2018 as Red #1323.
His backrow skills and unflagging work ethic for the Reds were also the springboard to six Tests and the Wallabies captaincy in the first Test against Wales in 2024.
"It will be hard not coming into Ballymore nearly every day. Beyond the moments on the field, my fondest memories are around the people, the mates I got to do it with," Wright said.
"After you walk into the banter at Ballymore to start a training day, you sweat and bleed together towards a common goal. That's really the joy I have loved."
Wright began his Reds career at 20 in 2018 and became a core figure in the major rebuild for Queensland rugby after a lowly 14th-placed finish in 2017.
Across his career, Wright played a significant role in reshaping both results and what the modern era Reds player stands for.
"Going on those annual Reds to Regions trips around the state, I got to see Queenslanders doing it tough through drought but just gritting their teeth and getting on with it," Wright said.
"I feel that's the team we became, the player I became and the person I have become. I'm really proud that I've got to know the DNA of a true Queenslander, someone who gets on with it no matter what, and help show that on and off the field.
"I've been in tears over injury at times but you pick yourself up to work hard, be resilient and go again."
Injury restricted Wright to just 58 minutes in two Super Rugby Pacific games in 2025 after an ironman performance in 2024 when he started in all 15 games.
Following constructive discussions over recent months, Wright and the Reds were unable to finalise terms for a new agreement and will part ways amicably.
Wright said his favourite game in a maroon jersey was the 21-14 win over the Sharks in 2019 when the Reds won in Durban for the first time in 15 years.
"I spent part of my childhood growing up in Durban so it was memorable to play in front of my wider family and friends in South Africa for the first time," Wright recounted.
"Everything came together for the team and myself that week...our defence held them out on the line at the death and we won there for the first time in 15 years."
Wright earned the crucial penalty to seal the result in the final minute when he got his hands on the ball, a skill he always brought to the Reds.
Wright said his close working relationships with head coaches Brad Thorn and Les Kiss meant he'd "almost had an initiation into what it would be like to coach one day."
"'Thorny' really did instill character and what it was like to perform under pressure. Les and his coaching team have added a finesse, with tactics and detail, that I've enjoyed over the past two years," Wright said.
Only James Horwill and Mark Loane captained the Reds more often that Wright (55 times). It was a role he never chased but he excelled at it.
"I was inspired by what it meant to be a Queenslander. I wore that very proudly and never let the privilege of that honour fade," Wright said.
"Thorny gave me the best advice on it - 'Make sure your own backyard is in order before asking anyone to follow'.
“Captaining the side was a real honour but what I’m most proud of are the moments when I wasn’t on the field. Those times taught me how to contribute in other ways, deepened my understanding of leadership and helped shape me into the person I am today.”
Wright made special mention of Tate McDermott and Angus Blyth as Reds teammates from the start of his own career. "They have been there for my whole ride at the Reds. If you compare where we all are as people then and now, you kind of realise this game goes beyond just playing rugby," Wright said.
Reds Head Coach Kiss paid tribute to all Wright has given to Queensland rugby.
"Liam is a true rugby man who lives the values of what rugby is," Kiss said.
"He's been an exceptional rugby player for the Reds. He's a brilliant person and you understand why the locker room looks up to him.
"He's a leader of men. His persistence and resilience are evident on a daily basis.
"Liam is one of the best I've met in the game. On behalf of the coaching staff, the Professional Rugby Department and the QRU, I wish him the best for the future."
