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Fraser McReight wants Wallabies 'bucket list' moment with Harry Wilson

(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Fraser McReight wants to wear a gold jersey alongside good mate Harry Wilson and hopes he’ll follow his lead after committing to Australian rugby.

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The Queensland Reds openside flanker has signed a two-year extension that will keep him on the books beyond this year’s World Cup and through to the 2025 British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia.

The 24-year-old captained the Australian U20 side at the 2019 world championships.

But he has been limited to 10 Test caps thanks to the resilience and class of former Wallabies captain and fellow No.7 Michael Hooper.

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McReight has been patient though and says he didn’t seriously consider a big-money move to Europe or Japan.

“There wasn’t too much of a thought; some clubs were interested but this was the best place for me,” he said.

“It was relatively easy. Home’s here, love the Reds and want to play for Australia. It’s great to have that locked away and focus on footy.”

Backrow partner Wilson is the Reds and Wallabies’ next target, the No.8 a ferocious ball runner with slick hands that has impressed new Australia coach Eddie Jones in Super Rugby Pacific’s opening month.

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Like McReight he’s battling for a regular Wallabies spot and was contracted until the end of this season and an attractive prospect abroad.

“I want him stay; he’s one of my close mates and love playing for him but he’s got to look out for himself,” McReight said of Wilson.

“We’ve played together since we were 12. It’s a cool thing as you develop, see how they thrive and go about it.

“Hopefully we can do that more and we haven’t played with each other in the gold jersey yet, so that’s something we want to tick off the bucket list.”

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Regarded as Hooper’s Wallabies heir apparent, McReight said his discussions with Jones had been positive.

“I’ve spoken to Eddie yep, it’s going to be great for Australian rugby,” he said.

“He’s going to let you know what you need to work on but (in terms of the pecking order) I’m not worried about that at all.

“We’ve played three games so far … I’ll keep ripping in.”

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O
OJohn 59 minutes ago
Will overseas selection make the difference for British and Irish Lions?

The trouble with appointing a coach from one state that is not the Tahs, is that the p.... at the Tahs will start weedling away immediately on ways to undermine the non Tah coach.


It's what the private school toffs do. They have a born to rule mentality, even tho they are complete failures. That is why they will only tolerate Tah coaches or weak kiwis they know they can control. A kiwi on a million Australian dollars a year will do anything the largest franchise in Australia tells him to do. He's only here for the money.


That's why Ewen McKenzie was the ideal candidate, even tho Hooper and Beale still set out straight away to undermine him to get Cheika installed but the next best alternative is to have a group of coaches from some of the franchises, except the Tahs, (not the Western Force with kiwi Cron - who is hopeless), to keep the Tahs in their place. The Wallabies must also not have more than 3 Tah players in the squad. Otherwise they will start scheming again under instruction from the NSW administration. The Tahs have spent the last 20 years undermining the Wallabies to get more players than they deserved in the squad. Their NSW egos are more important to them than the Wallabies.


I can't see why a triumverate of Super Rugy coaches can't coach the Wallabies too. I could include MacKellar in there as well but he has shown himself to select on favoritism rather than ability based on the ridiculous number of sub standard Brumbies who got a game under Rennie. He's not much of a Queenslander but the Tahs will stab in the back in a flash too eventually.

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