The Queensland Reds and Rugby Australia have locked two of the best teenage talent in the world after signing forwards Kingsley Uys and Will Ross.
The 17-year-olds have inked three-year development deals with the club, ensuring they stay in Australian Rugby as part of Rugby Australia's National Youth Retention Strategy,
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Uys and Ross both started in Australia U18s 38-31 win over New Zealand Schools in Hamilton.
Prop Uys, the youngest member of the squad, was one of the best on ground after scoring a try and setting up another.
“I’m excited. The facility I train in at Ballymore is amazing, I’m always learning from the coaching staff and I want to do something with this club at the Reds,” Uys said in a statement.
“There’s always so much to learn as a prop so it’s really good experience to have the chance to scrum with top Reds props like Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Massimo De Lutiis and Sef Fa’agase.
“I think it is really positive that young players are being locked to rugby. You can see where Rugby Australia is going.”
Ross is coming off helping Padua College claim their first school title since 2016.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity at the Reds. I’m already benefitting from the coaching because there are so many technical aspects to playing in the forwards,” Ross said.
“I’ve had chances to train with the main Reds squad at times and being able to test your skills when the game is played so fast is helpful.
“Beating the Kiwis on their turf last year was fantastic and part of it was the fact the team had been building connections since the U16s together.”
The announcement comes with the majority of the Australia U18s side locked into Academies across the Super Rugby programs, including Frankie Goldsbrough, Zach Fittler, Nick Conway, Edwin Langi, John Grenfell, Tom Robinson, Josh Takai and Ewald Kruger.
"It's a credit to the pathways at the Reds and Rugby Australia that Kinglsey and Will have been involved since U15s," Reds Head of Talent Management and former Wallaby Paul Carozza said.
“We don’t just stumble across these players last week and sign them.
“You build relationships with them and see their character, work ethic and ability from close range.
“We certainly see Kingsley and Will as very good long-term prospects in rugby. They were elite at their age-group last year and played, a year young, in that outstanding Australian U18s win.”
