Queensland Reds halfback Louis Werchon will start for Benetton Rugby in Galway on Sunday (AEST) in their United Rugby Championship opener.
It is immediate vindication of the progressive partnership between the Reds and the leading Italian club.
Werchon, hooker Richie Asiata and backrower John Bryant are on secondment for several months.
Asiata will also play off the bench against Connacht at 4:45am AEST on Sunday while Bryant, who played in two pre-season matches, is sidelined this week with illness.
The partnership has mutual benefits. Benetton Rugby are excited to utilise players sharpened in Super Rugby Pacific while the trio will earn experience in the URC to prepare them for 2026 with the Reds.
The benefits go beyond what happens on the field with the cultural experience and the maturity of learning the game in different conditions.
Werchon summarised the first stage of his stay for BenTV, the Italian club's channel, and on the club's website benettonrugby.it
Louis, what's your assessment of Benetton Rugby's pre-season?
"These have been encouraging weeks of work for us , and we've also played two friendlies, showing promising signs for the start of the season . We're therefore confident ahead of the first competitive matches."
What positives have you learned, and where do you need to improve?
“I think we especially need to refine our fundamentals when we have the ball in hand. Otherwise , I think we're a great team, with a lot of talent throughout the squad, and we know we can further develop our attack and kicking game; we're excited to start the season soon.”
You arrived from Australia about two months ago: how's this new adventure going on a personal level?
“I came here without knowing Italian, and I thought that might limit me initially, but my English-speaking teammates made it easy for me to settle in, and the whole team has welcomed me so warmly. Living in Treviso right now is fantastic; it's a very nice city, and there's always something to do. It's a lot of fun being here.”
Overall, what's your take on this Benetton Rugby-Queensland Reds collaboration?
"I think the collaboration between Benetton Rugby and Queensland Reds is really great. As Australian kids who come here, we can experience a different style of rugby , a new culinary culture, taste different foods, and learn about new customs. It's also fantastic to visit other European countries during our time here."
You're approaching a different league than you've ever played before: what differences in the game have you noticed?
"Definitely the kicking game. In Australia, the game is more open; we don't have contact in our 22-meter line; we kick and run instead. It's a faster, less structured game. Here, it's different, and that's something that intrigues me, because kicking is a key aspect of my game, and I'm happy to be able to improve it here."
