Jock Campbell is off to Japan, but it’s not all bad news for Wallabies fans with Izaia Perese set to return to the Queensland Reds a decade after debuting for the Super Rugby club, nine.com.au can reveal.
That’s not all either because Campbell’s departure will see the Reds, with the help of Rugby Australia, throw the kitchen sink at extending Treyvon Pritchard’s time at Ballymore, with the 19-year-old sensation firmly in the sights of cashed-up NRL suitors despite being signed until the end of 2027.
Jock Campbell of Australia. Getty
News of Campbell’s departure comes just as he bursts back into the national consciousness.
While Campbell’s excellent season was rewarded last weekend as he played his first Test in almost four years, the Reds had already begun turning their attention to signing up the man they view as the long-term fullback, Pritchard, at the Super Rugby franchise.
And, with no national top-up offered to the experienced fullback, Campbell decided to bite the bullet and sign overseas despite receiving a modest offer to stay at the Reds.
The classy Reds fullback, whose poise has always been a feature of his game, will still be available to play for the Wallabies, but incoming coach Les Kiss, who knows Campbell better than most after coaching him for the past three seasons, will have to pick him from offshore.
Despite only just returning to the Wallabies, it’s understood the national team is aware that he will head overseas soon.
Campbell will wear the No.22 jersey this weekend against France, providing cover at fullback and flyhalf.
It will be just his second Test on home soil and first in his home state of Queensland.
News of his departure is likely to be softened by the looming return of Perese, the 29-year-old Wallaby who featured at the 2023 World Cup under Eddie Jones.
Perese nna\mdinjaski
A teenage sensation, the now experienced centre, who played two matches for the Brisbane Broncos, has been considering his options over the past few months after finishing his contract at Leicester Tigers.
In hot demand, it’s believed Perese was in a three-way tug-of-war for his signature, with the Force, Reds and Waratahs all hunting his signature.
While the deal is yet to be rubber-stamped, it’s understood Perese informed the Force late last month that he wouldn’t be joining Simon Cron’s side.
It’s understood a desire to resettle his family, including his young children in Brisbane, always meant the Reds were firmly in the picture to land his signature despite some early reports that the Force would lure him home.
Should he indeed sign, Perese will soften the blow of Campbell’s exit, and he will also provide some much-needed experience to the midfield after the departures of Hunter Paisami (Japan) and Josh Flook (Italy).
The Reds have rising midfielders Dre Pakeho and Isaac Henry – who could make his Test debut over the next month – already on their books, but Perese’s return will offer incoming Reds coach Vern Cotter a proven, confrontational centre.
Coach Vern Cotter of the Blues looks on. Getty
After weeks of negotiations, an announcement on Perese’s return is expected over the next week.
Meanwhile, the Reds are desperately hoping a deal can be struck to extend Pritchard’s time at the Super Rugby franchise sooner rather than later, especially after Campbell’s departure.
It’s understood the sticking point is the length of Pritchard’s deal, with RA trying to sign him long-term before his price goes up even further.
After an eye-catching debut season for the Reds which even saw former Wallabies coaches Ewen McKenzie and John Connolly pushing for the teenager to parachuted into the national squad, Pritchard once again showed his incredible potential earlier this week for the national under-20s side in Georgia.
The boom teenage sensation sparked a massive line break near his own tryline and ran 60 metres, before hitting his teammate with a brilliant left-to-right pass on the run.
The moment went viral and wasn’t missed by cashed-up NRL clubs, who immediately increased their offer to try to lure him over to the 13-person game.
Wallabies loose forward Tom Hooper, who will join the Reds in 2029, said he was hopeful that Pritchard would still be at the franchise by the time he finishes up his three-year deal with Exeter.
“Any athlete with that much talent, you certainly want to work with him,” Hooper said.
“I’m definitely not the most flashy player, so I know if I can get through a mountain of work, guys like himself and whatever young athletes we’ve got coming through as well, like Timmy Ryan, they’ll finish off some nice tries that I hopefully set up for them.”