Henry and Robinson to co-captain new-look Reds against Wild Knights

Isaac Henry and Tom Robinson will share co-captaincy duties when a young Queensland Reds side takes on Japan’s Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in Toowoomba this weekend, with two Australia U18s standouts set to start in the backs.

Henry has been named at outside centre, linking up with 2025 Super Rugby Pacific rookie Dre Pakeho in the midfield. Australia U18s stars Finn Mackay and Treyvon Pritchard have been named in the run-on side, starting at fly-half and fullback respectively.

Pritchard played for the Anglican Church Grammar School First XV in Queensland’s GPS First XV competition last month, before starring for the national U18s side in two comprehensive wins over the New Zealand Schoolboys in Canberra.

James Martens will combine with Mackay in the halves, while Souths’ Xavier Rubens starts on one wing, with Reds outside back Heremaia Murray lining up on the other edge.

In the forwards, George Blake will pack down in the front row alongside Theo Fourie and Trevor King. Charlie Brosnan and Jack Brady round out the tight five as the two locks.

Co-captain Robinson, who led the Australia U18s last year, has been selected at blindside flanker. Kohan Herbert from Souths will line up at openside, with Vaiuta Latu the other starting forward at No. 8.

10 replacements have been named, including former All Blacks prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allan.

“As a coaching team, it’s been really pleasing to see the growth of those players who performed exceptionally against NZ Schools. Their training has been superb since joining us,” Reds Head Coach Les Kiss said in a statement.

“A lot of credit is due to Australia U18s coach Dale Roberson, our Reds Academy coach, because they have been prepared knowing our systems and ways.

“It’s especially exciting to see Finn and Treyvon with this chance. They haven’t just brought enthusiasm to training but attention to the detail of our game plan.

“For Finn, at No.10, he’ll have centres outside him in Dre and Isaac, who both have Super Rugby experience.

“We see the development value of these games every season. Heremaia debuted for the Reds in Japan last year and the likes of Massimo De Lutiis, John Bryant, Tim Ryan and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips did so in my first match as Reds coach in 2023,” he added.

“The cultural experience of these games is one of the unique parts of rugby and I know Robbie and I appreciate this ongoing Reds-Wild Knights relationship in the same way.”

This match will kick off at 3:00 pm AEST on Saturday at Toowoomba Sports Ground.

Queensland Reds to take on Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights

1 George Blake – Bond University
2 Theo Fourie – Brothers
3 Trevor King – Souths
4 Charlie Brosnan – Brothers
5 Jack Brady – University of Queensland
6 Tom Robinson (co-capt) – University of Queensland
7 Kohan Herbert – Souths
8 Vaiuta Latu – Brothers
9 James Martens – GPS
10 Finn Mackay – Souths
11 Xavier Rubens – Souths
12 Dre Pakeho – Brothers
13 Isaac Henry (co-capt) – Wests
14 Heremaia Murray – Bond University
15 Treyvon Pritchard – Anglican Church Grammar School
Replacements
Zac Hough – University of Queensland
Harrison Usher – Bond University
Nick Bloomfield – Easts
Ollie Harris – Norths
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen – Norths
Will Ross – Brothers
Hamish Muller – Brothers
Graham Urquhart – Brothers
Tom Howard – University of Queensland
Josh Takai – Brothers