The Queensland Reds will play in Toowoomba for the first time in 12 years with Downs Rugby to host Japan's Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights on Saturday, October 18.
The exciting match against the leading Japanese club, guided by former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, will be a feature element of the Downs International Rugby Weekend at Toowoomba Sports Ground.
The two-day rugby fest will also feature elite women's rugby sevens and perfect role models for local sevens players in action on the same program.
The champion Australian team, Olympic gold medallists New Zealand and the USA will showcase the best of women's sevens in a triangular series of eight matches across October 17 and 18 in the Mort & Co International Women's Rugby Sevens tournament.
Tickets will go on sale through Ticketek in the lead-up to the weekend.
This will be the first match in Toowoomba for the Reds since 2013. On that occasion, the crowd thrilled to a 12-try spectacle with the Reds winning 41-35 over the Auckland-based Blues in a pre-season match. Around 3000 local fans left the ground happy.
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander welcomed the return of world-class rugby to Toowoomba.
“For rugby fans in the region, it doesn’t get much better than men’s and women’s international matches being played at the fantastic Toowoomba Sports Ground,” Minister Mander said.
“The Queensland Government is pleased to support the Downs International Rugby Weekend and help bring top-flight rugby back to Toowoomba.
“Seeing so many top players first-hand will no doubt inspire even more local kids to get out and play the game.”
For the Reds, the October 18 match is the first time the valued relationship with the Wild Knights has been broadened to a regional clash.
This is the fourth year of matches between the clubs which have a symbolism beyond rugby. It is 41 years since the sister state relationship was forged between Queensland and Saitama.
All the previous clashes have been free-flowing, try-filled contests for the fans with previous matches played in Japan (2022 and 2024) and Brisbane (2023).
Invariably, the matches have been a first-time chance in the Reds jersey for the likes of Louis Werchon (2022), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (2023), John Bryant (2023), Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (2023), Tim Ryan (2023), Massimo De Lutiis (2023), Heremaia Murray (2024) and Frankie Goldsbrough (2024).
The annual clashes against the Wild Knights are a feature of the Reds International Program to develop players beyond the Super Rugby Pacific season.
The Wild Knights will continue their tour with a second clash against the Reds at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane on October 25.
"We value these tour games on a number of levels. We are developing our players and there is a cultural experience to them as well," Reds Head Coach Les Kiss said.
"Playing against teams from around the world is one of the special parts of rugby.
"We also know the importance of regional rugby and the support the Reds receive from the Darling Downs. With Matt Faessler and Trevor King in our squad, we have players who have learnt the game in Toowoomba."
Australian coach Tim Walsh will bring his Aussie sevens stars to Toowoomba to prepare for World Rugby's HSBC SVNS Series.
Headliners Maddi Levi, Charlotte Caslick, sister Teagan, Faith Nathan, Isabella Nasser and Co are all expected to be involved.
DOWNS INTERNATIONAL RUGBY WEEKEND + MORT & CO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S RUGBY SEVENS TOURNAMENT
Friday, October 17
11am: USA vs NZ (7s)
1pm: Australia vs NZ (7s)
3pm: USA vs NZ (7s)
5pm: Australia vs USA (7s)
Saturday, October 18
9:30am: Australia vs USA (7s)
Local Sevens
11:30am: NZ vs USA (7s)
Local Sevens
1:45: Australia vs NZ (7s)
3pm: Queensland Reds vs Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights (Japan)
5:15pm: Australia vs NZ (7s)
