Hooker Richie Asiata’s strong season for the Queensland Reds has been rewarded with a new contract for 2026.
The Queensland Rugby Union is delighted to announce the in-form forward has agreed to continue with the club.
Asiata, 29, is enjoying his most consistent and productive season in Super Rugby. He has been selected for his 13th game of the campaign in Friday night’s Qualifying Final against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
“It’s an awesome feeling to have 2026 locked in. Ballymore is pretty much home for me and I love playing for the Reds,” said Asiata, who has scored seven tries this season.
“After the knee issues that disrupted the start of last year, it’s been great just to play consistent footy and play my game.
“It’s concentrating on improving all the little things that make you a better player not the flashy things.
“For me, that’s been working on breakdown stuff with ‘Fish’ (assistant coach Jonathan Fisher), sharpening my lineout throwing and scrummaging with ‘Choc’ (assistant coach Zane Hilton) and being really onto my defence with (assistant coach) Brad Davis.
“I’m a way better player than I was two years ago so being able to keep developing is an exciting part of being at the Reds.”
Asiata has been a major beneficiary of the Reds International Program. After not playing through the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, he attacked matches against Wales, Tonga, Japan’s Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights and English club Bristol to build his form and selection credentials for this season.
A product of Brisbane's Anglican Church Grammar School, Asiata advanced his experience with stints abroad in Major League Rugby with the Toronto Arrows (2020) and in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship with Northland (2024).
Asiata was on the bench for the Reds’ quarter-final against the Crusaders in Christchurch in 2022 to understand what Friday offers.
“It’s a massive game. Most of the players know the environment,” Asiata said.
“If we stick to our job and game plan we compete with any team. The whole focus is on this 80 minutes."
Reds head Coach Les Kiss said Asiata’s continued presence at the club is a positive.
“Richie has stepped up to every opportunity this year and proved himself one of the form hookers in the competition,” Kiss said.
“His set piece work has been brilliant and his power in the loose has been very beneficial to our game. He’s an unassuming guy who is a great team man.”
Position: Hooker
Height: 180cm
Weight: 110kg
Birth date: 03/05/1996
Place of Birth: Auckland
Club: Sunnybank
School: Anglican Church Grammar School
Queensland debut: 2021 v NSW Waratahs, Brisbane
Queensland caps: 46
