John Bryant named Queensland Reds captain for Japan tour opener against Wild Knights

John Bryant will captain the Queensland Reds for the first time when they face Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in a non-cap trial, with coach Vern Cotter naming the openside flanker as skipper ahead of the side’s international tour.

Bryant, who once led St Laurence’s College First XV to a drought-breaking AIC premiership six years ago, will pack down in the loose forwards alongside Tom Robinson and Vaiuta Latu. Cotter cited the 23-year-old’s leadership by example and his potential for continued development as key reasons for the appointment.

“John has been working hard for us. What we are excited about is that he does have a ceiling to become better on both sides of the ball,” Cotter said. “Apart from his ball-carrying and defence, he has leadership qualities and we need to build those within the squad. He leads by his actions and he knows the game too.”

Australia A captain Matt Faessler has been named on the bench alongside fellow Wallabies Zane Nonggorr and Aidan Ross. New Reds recruits Izaia Perese, Coby Miln and Cadeyrn Neville also feature, with Miln starting at fullback and Perese in the centres alongside Dre Pakeho.

Tom Lynagh starts at fly-half with Cooper Stewart at scrum-half, while Charlie Brosnan and Neville form the second-row partnership. Zac Hough packs down at hooker between props George Blake and Trevor King.

Cotter framed the tour as an important building block ahead of Super Rugby Pacific, with the Reds facing the Wild Knights twice — the second match a capped fixture — before travelling to Europe to take on an Italy XV and Benetton Rugby.

“This tour is exciting for everyone involved, the Queensland Rugby Union as an organisation, the team, players, staff, everybody,” Cotter said. “The games in Japan will test us in a different way to those in Italy. Our skillset and resilience will be challenged and that preparation on tour will bring us closer together for the start of Super Rugby Pacific early next year.”