Former Wallabies centre Perese signs with Reds, eyes World Cup spot

Former Australian centre Izaia Perese is set to reignite his international career after signing a two-year contract with the Queensland Reds. The move signals his ambition to secure a place in the national squad for the upcoming World Cup.

Perese, 29, will return to his home state of Queensland after concluding his tenure with English club Leicester at the end of the 2025/26 season. This marks his second stint with the Reds, having previously debuted for the provincial team in 2016 before a brief period in rugby league with the Brisbane Broncos.

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It's an exciting time for rugby in Australia as a whole. The Rugby World Cup next year is obviously a goal but what comes first is playing good rugby here at the Reds.

Renowned for his physical presence and defensive capabilities, Perese earned his last of seven test caps during Australia's disappointing 2023 World Cup campaign in France. He admitted he initially thought his playing career might conclude outside of Australia but expressed excitement about returning home.

"Playing for your country is the pinnacle," Perese stated. "All I can do to get back there is solely going to come from doing my job to the best of my ability for Queensland." He sees the move to the Reds as a crucial step towards potentially breaking into Les Kiss's Wallabies squad, especially with competition at outside centre.

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Playing for your country is the pinnacle. All I can do to get back there is solely going to come from doing my job to the best of my ability for Queensland.