Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Queensland Reds re-sign experienced prop Sef Fa’agase for 2025 season

By Finn Morton
Sef Fa’agase of the Reds warms up prior to the match between Queensland Reds and Wales at Suncorp Stadium on July 19, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

On Thursday, the Queensland Rugby Union announced that veteran prop Sef Fa’agase has re-signed with the Reds on a new one-year deal. No current Reds player started playing for the club before Fa’agase debuted 10 years ago in 2014.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fa’agase adds experience and depth to the Queensland Reds’ front-row stocks for next year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign. With the Reds losing Flying Fijians enforcer Peni Ravai to the Drua, signing Fa’agase is an important bit of business from the club.

The Reds already boast impressive options in the front-row including former All Blacks and current Wallabies prop Alex Hodgman. Another ex-New Zealand international Jeffery Toomaga-Allen is also in the mix, as are Wallabies Zane Nonggorr and Matt Gibbon.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

Former Junior Wallabies prop Massimo De Lutiis is also on the books for 2025. De Lutiis made his starting debut for the Reds against Tonga last month, and the youngster is certainly one to watch during next year’s Super season.

“We are all in there competing and working on what we need to do to be better,” Sef Fa’agase said in a statement. “The hunger to perform and make my teammates proud is one of my big drivers.

“I think it’s pretty cool that we have props at the Reds at both ends of their footy journey. You have ‘Mass’ at the start of his career, Zane (Nonggorr) learning in the early stages of his Wallabies career and experienced guys who’ve been at it for a decade or more.

“The young guys, and I include Academy prop Trevor King, are all such sponges and eager to improve. The experience is at the Reds to pass on knowledge which I know is very important because I got those benefits when I first came in as a young prop in 2014.”

ADVERTISEMENT

What Fa’agase brings to the table for the Reds can’t go unnoticed or unappreciated. The 33-year-old has played 74 games for the Reds which included 10 appearances during the team’s run to the quarter-finals in 2024.

Fa’agase started two matches at loosehead prop against the Chiefs in Brisbane and away to the Melbourne Rebels, but was primarily called upon as an impact player off the bench by Reds head coach Les Kiss.

The experienced campaigner has proven himself a reliable option at both loosehead and tighthead prop, which makes Fa’agase an invaluable addition for a Reds team that continues to build under coach Kiss.

“The style of play, the team culture and the environment around Ballymore were big plusses in wanting to stay at the Reds,” Fa’agase explained.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I want to be a part of it as long as I can.

“I love the fact the Reds is not about putting people in boxes to mould players in a particular way. The freedom of self-expression is massive,” he added.

“Bring your best ‘you’ within the team environment. I like that.”

The 113-kilogram prop debuted at Super Rugby level for the Reds in 2014 against the Highlanders in Brisbane. Fa’agase has also played three matches for the Landers, and another two for the Melbourne Rebels.

“Fa’agase’s signing is an important one,” coach Les Kiss said.

“Experienced, versatile props like Sef are highly valued in Super Rugby. Having a strong group of props to challenge themselves and keep improving is a core part of the Reds.”

The Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup is in full swing - catch every match live on RugbyPass TV or via your local broadcaster! Watch here

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Why Rassie Erasmus should cull some Boks veterans for 2027

I think cull is the wrong word.


I think Rassie and the senior players will be pretty open and honest with each other about their prospects for another World Cup campaign. And, ironically, I don’t think Rassie is thinking as far ahead as 2027 in terms of who is going to go.


There are likely going to be injuries too where players one would assume will be at 2027 won’t feature. Think Marx and Am and 2023.


I think the priority is really having as many players as possible in contention for a spot on the 33 by the time squad selection comes around.


I made this point a while ago, but having double World Cup winners in the setup over the next 3 years is going to be golden for the boks. It’s like having a coach in each position.


Razor was criticized for having too many coaches in his team. Rassie has more than 15 player coaches at his disposal.


I think Siya is being teed up to play the same role Duane did at the 2023 RWC. Invitation to the coaching box this coming weekend included.


I think many of the old guard are playing a role in the team that certainly does not guarantee them a 2027 place but doesn’t hurt their chances at being selected - but they will have to be the no.1 or no. 2 best in that position to be selected at that time. There won’t be any dead weight - whether old or young.


In my mind the strategy would be quite simple. Take everyone who will be over 32 by 2027 and pencil their names in right now in slot number three for their relative position. We know what they can do and they know what they need to do to be in contention for 2027.


Then ask yourself who do we have to take position no.1 and no. 2. Tried and tested or not. Find them and trial them over the next 3 years. Their job is to keep the old guys out. And the old guys job is to help them do just that.


That’s what Rassie has to do and has started well trying 48 players and 11 debutants in year one as the article mentioned (and winning).


I reckon there’ll be another 5-10 new players tried by the end of this year, particularly in November.


2024 ✅

2 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Why the rest of the rugby world is worried about Australia Why the rest of the rugby world is worried about Australia
Search