Vern Cotter names 17 Wallabies in stacked Reds squad for 2027

New Queensland Reds coach Vern Cotter has selected 17 Wallabies in the club’s Super Rugby Pacific squad for next season, which includes three players who have captained Australia at the highest level.

Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson is joined by openside flanker Fraser McReight and scrum-half Tate McDermott in a strong Reds squad. Four players have played 100 Super Rugby or cap games for the Reds, and another 11 who have made at least 50 appearances.

Izaia Perese is among the new faces in the Reds squad, with the capped Wallaby returning to Australia’s shores after a successful stint abroad. Lachlan Hooper, Toby Brial and Coby Miln are some of the club’s other new recruits ahead of the 2027 season.

Miln is a quality playmaker with extensive experience both in Australia and abroad. The 27-year-old helped Warringah claim the 2025 Shute Shield title, reached the 2026 Major League Rugby big dance with California Legion, and represented North Harbour in New Zealand’s NPC.

Capped Wallabies Carter Gordon and Tom Lynagh will compete with Miln for spots in the 23-man squad week to week, while Australia U20 fly-half Finn Mackay rehabs a major knee injury. Miln has been listed as a ‘utility’ along with Wallabies winger Filipo Daugunu.

“We’ve had three good weeks of training, and there’s another in front of us, before we go on tour next week. Playing four games overseas will be a strong way to reinforce the style of game we want to put on the field next year,” Cotter said.

“The Reds used 37 players during this year’s Super Rugby season so we know how valuable a tour like this is. It will develop our depth and effective habits to take on a season that has been extended to 16 games (from 14 in the regular season).

“Players like Lachie Hooper, after an excellent season for Northland (in the NPC), are yet to join us. Izzy (Perese) has been fully involved in training for a good while now. Coby and Toby are new. Cadeyrn knows his way around Super Rugby. There is a lot of top-level experience in our Wallabies.

“It will be exciting to put all the pieces together and get the growth I see in this squad for the new season.”

2027 QUEENSLAND REDS SQUAD

Props
Aidan Ross
George Blake
Tom Lambert
Kingsley Uys
Zane Nonggorr
Massimo De Lutiis
Trevor King
Nick Bloomfield

Hookers
Matt Faessler
Josh Nasser
Zac Hough

Locks
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Josh Canham
Will Ross
Cadeyrn Neville
Charlie Brosnan

Loose Forwards
Joe Brial
Vaiuta Latu
Tom Robinson
John Bryant
Fraser McReight
Toby Brial
Lachie Hooper
Harry Wilson

Scrum-halves
Tate McDermott
Kalani Thomas
James Martens

Fly-halves
Carter Gordon
Tom Lynagh
Finn Mackay

Centres
Isaac Henry
Dre Pakeho
Izaia Perese
Xavier Rubens
Taione Taka

Outside Backs
Lachie Anderson
Tim Ryan
Nicholas Conway
Treyvon Pritchard

Utility
Filipo Daugunu
Coby Miln