Bull Sharks premiership front rower Harrison Usher has been selected to make his Queensland debut in the Reds trial match against touring Japanese side the Saitama Wild Knights.
The 22-year-old will be hoping to impress in the trial at Toowoomba on Saturday and retain his position for the official clash at Ballymore on October 26, which will be counted as a capped game for Queensland.
The Bachelor of Business graduate, a former Australian Under-20s rep, has spent the past six weeks training with the Reds
Meanwhile, Usher’s premiership teammates Aidan Ross and Josh Canham have been named alongside fellow Bull Shark Zane Nonggorr in the Wallabies 35-man squad for their final five Test matches of the season.
The tour sees the Wallabies head to Japan to face Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms, before Tests against England, Italy, Ireland, and France.
Former All Black Ross, who made his Bull Sharks debut in the 27-25 Hospital Cup grand final victory over Brothers, will be hoping to earn his first cap for the Wallabies.
If selected, he would become the fifth player to appear in Test matches for Australia and New Zealand.
Born in NSW, Ross moved with his New Zealand parents to Tauranga when he was eight and played his lone All Blacks Test against Ireland on July 9, 2022.
The first prop to play 100 games for the Chiefs joined the Reds on a three-year deal the day after playing in the Chiefs’ 16-12 Super Rugby final loss to the Crusaders.
He earned his first Queensland cap in the series opener against the British and Irish Lions.
Under World Rugby’s eligibility rules, a three-year gap between Tests is required before a player can switch allegiances.
Ross has already spent time in the Wallabies’ program after being drafted into Joe Schmidt’s squad for the tour final Test against the Lions, which delayed his debut for the Bull Sharks.
He stayed with the squad for the tour of South Africa before returning to help the Bull Sharks to a maiden Queensland Premier Rugby title.
The 28-year-old joins Kalani Thomas and re-signed former Gold Coast Titan Carter Gordon in a new look touring squad.
Canham will first tour with Australia A and will stay on in Japan to link up with the Wallabies.
“The squad and staff have had a brief chance to catch their breath after what has been a dense and attritional Test season so far,” Joe Schmidt added in an official statement.
“The challenge certainly doesn’t get any easier with five consecutive Tests on the road against high-quality international opposition, but, in saying that, I think the squad will relish the challenge and players will work hard to be as competitive as possible.
“Both Aidan Ross and Kalani Thomas have had a bit of time with us, and Carter Gordon will get the opportunity to integrate back into the Wallabies environment. The three players are fully fit and eager to be involved.”