The Queensland Reds and Rugby Australia have confirmed that they have signed Wallabies star Tom Hooper while the Waratahs have announced that they have bolstered their forward stocks and a promising Blues youngster has signed a contract extension with the Auckland-based outfit.<\/p>\n
Wallabies utility forward confirms Reds move<\/p>\n
Wallabies utility forward Tom Hooper has officially committed his long-term future to Australian rugby, signing a new agreement that will see him join the Queensland Reds in mid-2028.<\/p>\n
The 23-Test international, who is currently plying his trade with PREM Rugby outfit Exeter Chiefs, has agreed terms on a deal which secures his return to Australia<\/a> through to the end of 2030.<\/p>\n The versatile Hooper<\/a>\u2019s signature is a strong endorsement for Australian rugby with the 25-year-old, who is comfortable on the flank and at lock, emerging as one of the players to watch in Test rugby.<\/p>\n After a standout 2025 international campaign that featured a Player of the Match performance during the Wallabies\u2019 22-12 third Test triumph over the British & Irish Lions, Hooper\u2019s long-term commitment is a massive positive for supporters of Australian rugby.<\/p>\n He was recently named in the PREM Rugby Team of the Season after helping Exeter to the final. While he will fulfil his current commitments in England for the next two seasons, his arrival back in Australia in mid-2028 will bolster the Reds<\/a>\u2018 squad for their 2029 and 2030 Super Rugby Pacific<\/a> campaigns.<\/p>\n Hooper\u2019s journey as a professional rugby player has taken him to a Super Rugby debut with the Brumbies in 2021 before he was included in Australia\u2019s squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup where he played every single minute for his country.<\/p>\n Hooper is excited by the prospect of joining the Reds when he completes his stint with Exeter Chiefs in 2028.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really happy to have my long-term future secured with a move back to Australia in the not-too-distant future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m thoroughly enjoying my time in Exeter and am focused on continuing to improve my game there before returning to Australia and linking up with Queensland.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the short-term, my priority is to continue working hard with the Wallabies where I\u2019m incredibly hungry to contribute on and off the field as we continue to build our game as a group.\u201d<\/p>\n Reds general manager high performance Sam Cordingley said Hooper\u2019s recruitment is a major positive for the Brisbane-based outfit.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re delighted to welcome Tom to the Reds. While it will be a couple of years before we see him in a Reds jersey, he\u2019s another world-class player we can build our squad around,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIn planning for the future, we\u2019re confident Tom\u2019s decision to join the Reds will be a catalyst for retaining and recruiting players over the next few years.\u201d<\/p>\n Rugby Australia\u2019s director of high performance Peter Horne said: \u201cTom\u2019s return to Australian Rugby is a real coup for all supporters of the game in this country.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s someone who works incredibly hard on his craft and has already shown the impact he can have at the highest level.\u201d<\/p>\n Tight five duo join the Waratahs<\/p>\n The Waratahs<\/a> have secured the signings of front-row Sefo Kautai and second-row Veikoso Poloniati for their 2027 Super Rugby Pacific campaign.<\/p>\n 29-year-old Kautai arrives from the Highlanders on a one-year contract, while Poloniati, who is 30, has signed from Moana Pasifika on a two-year deal.<\/p>\n Waratahs director of high performance BJ Mather is happy that two seasoned professionals has joined the Sydneysiders and expects them to bolster the club\u2019s tight five ranks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are delighted to add both Sefo and Veikoso to the playing group for 2027,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are proven and experienced Super Rugby Pacific players who have played for some of the biggest clubs in world rugby.<\/p>\n \u201cThey both jumped at the opportunity to come to the Waratahs and we are looking forward to welcoming them to the club for the start of pre-season in November.\u201d<\/p>\n Tighthead prop Kautai is an experienced Super Rugby Pacific campaigner, who, apart from the Highlanders, also had stints at the Chiefs and Brumbies during his career thus far.<\/p>\n Known as a powerful scrummager and weighing in at 116kgs, Kautai made his debut in 2017 for the Chiefs against the Stormers in Round Seven of Super Rugby.<\/p>\n Wallabies: Star duo ruled out of Nations Championship encounter against France<\/a><\/p>\n In total, he has 64 Super Rugby caps to his name, while in his final year at the Brumbies in 2024, he featured in all 16 of their matches as they were beaten in the semi final by the Blues at Eden Park.<\/p>\n Kautai is delighted to return to Australian rugby with the Waratahs.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m thrilled to be joining the team at the Waratahs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really looking forward to this opportunity and moving to Sydney. I will be looking to contribute to the group and earn respect through my work.\u201d<\/p>\n Tongan international lock Poloniati joins from Moana Pasifika, whom he represented in 18 Super Rugby Pacific matches across two stints in 2022 and 2026.<\/p>\n He has also played for Racing 92 and Bayonne in the Top 14, as well as Manawatu in New Zealand\u2019s National Provincial Championship (NPC).<\/p>\n Standing at 2.03m tall, Poloniati is a huge asset at the lineout and a strong ball runner.<\/p>\n He has made seven Test appearances for Tonga, including starting in their 36-26 win over Zimbabwe in the Nations Cup in Colorado at the weekend.<\/p>\n Poloniati is looking forward to moving to Sydney and representing the Waratahs over the next two seasons.<\/p>\n \u201cMalo, I\u2019m incredibly excited to be joining the NSW Waratahs and to start this next chapter in my rugby journey,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a fantastic opportunity to challenge myself in a new environment, continue growing as a player, and to represent such a proud club.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way, I can\u2019t wait to get stuck into pre-season and meet my new teammates. I\u2019m looking forward to what\u2019s ahead and enjoying the Australian lifestyle and culture with my family.\u201d<\/p>\n Highly rated outside back extends Blues stay<\/p>\n