‘Like destiny’: The Queenslander who debuted for France against Wallabies

Brisbane State High School is less than three kilometres away from Suncorp Stadium. It would take you about seven minutes to drive from one to the other, but Moses Alo-Emile took a far more unique path over eight years.

Alo-Emile is a product of the prestigious BSHS First XV and the Queensland Schoolboys pathway, but the front-rower helped take down the Wallabies on Saturday. The loosehead prop debuted for France in a 42-26 Nations Championship win, packing down opposite Allan Alaalatoa.

The 26-year-old still has family in Australia and returns home to Brisbane every two years to see them, but this time was different. France were the opposition, looking to win four in a row against the Wallabies for the first time in 60 years, and Alo-Emile was wearing blue instead of gold.

But Alo-Emile couldn’t stop smiling post-game. The positivity and pride was genuinely infectious as the debutant walked out of the dressing room, sporting a freshly presented cap, with family wearing French jerseys and supporter gear nearby.

It’s been an unlikely and remarkable journey to the top for the Queenslander, who went to school in the next suburb over, but is now officially an international rugby player – becoming France representative number 1234.

“It’s like a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Being able to play my first game in Brisbane against the Wallabies, I’ve been saying with the French media a lot, it’s like destiny, it’s kind of meant to happen,” Alo-Emile told RugbyPass post-game.

“It was weird though, when I got here to Brisbane two weeks ago, rocking up in French kit. I come to Brisbane almost every two years to see the fame but this time was a lot different.”

Alo-Emile graduated from BSHS nine years ago, having played First XV rugby in Queensland’s GPS competition against the likes of Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight and Len Ikitau. Wilson is of course the current Wallabies skipper, while McReight captains the Queensland Reds.

McReight touched down for two tries during another promising first-half performance from the Wallabies, and the openside flanker stepped up in defence too. Ikitau impressed at inside centre, coming off a Wallabies Player of the Year season in 2025.

Wilson went to St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace, McReight is a product of the Brisbane Grammar School First XV, and Ikitau went to Brisbane Boys’ College. Those three are now among the game-drivers and leaders for the Wallabies, as they charge towards a home World Cup.

Alo-Emile played for the Queensland Schoolboys with Wilson, but had no real opportunities to keep playing in Australia after school. The front-rower instead took up an overseas as an 18-year-old, which led to a Stade Francais debut on December 9, 2018, away to Ospreys.

“I moved to France because it was pretty much the only country that gave me an opportunity,” Alo-Emile said.

“I had nothing going for me over in Australia with Rugby Australia. I signed a little academy contract over there and the rest is history.”

After making 15 starts in 29 appearances for the Parsian club during the 2025/26 season, Alo-Emile was rewarded with a spot in Les Bleus’ squad for the July Nations Championship, which started with a trip to New Zealand.

France lost a thriller to the All Blacks at Christchurch’s One NZ Stadium, but bounce back in style against the Wallabies. Alo-Emile put in a 45-minute shift, running the ball five times and making a few shots in defence.

“Not really pressure, I think just nerves,” he explained.

“First cap, [in] Brisbane. Wasn’t much pressure for me to score three tries but I think just to do the basics that I can and just to survive – it’s definitely different tempo but it was awesome.”

Former NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies lock Thomas Staniforth debuted for France against New Zealand and was retained in the matchday 23 to take on Australia. The second-rower came off the bench, playing the last 30 minutes.

Emmanuel Meafou is another product of Queensland’s GPS First XV system, with the towering French lock coming out of Ipswich Grammar School. Meafou scored the first try before conceding a yellow card later in the first half.

France turn their focus to a Nations Championship clash away to Japan, while the Wallabies will soon jet off to Perth for the final match of the Joe Schmidt era. The Aussies host Italy next weekend at Perth’s HBF Park.