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<\/a> <\/p>\nThe Queensland Reds<\/a> have signed 16-year-old Kaiya Tafea on a three-year development deal, with the 2.04-metre The Southport School product already taller than the two locks who started for the Wallabies against Italy<\/a> last weekend.<\/p>\n Western Force<\/a> captain Jeremy Williams and Queensland Reds<\/a> enforcer Josh Canham lined up in the run-on side for the Wallabies, as they snapped a six-match losing streak with a ruthless 47-point Nations Championship<\/a> win.<\/p>\n But those two are slightly shorter than Reds prospect Tafea, who has officially put pen to paper on a multi-year deal with the Queensland Rugby Union. In partnership with Rugby Australia, this deal will allow Tafea to progress as a rugby player within the high-performance Ballymore set-up.<\/p>\n Incredibly, Tafea was only lifted in a lineout for the first time last year. The Year 11 schoolboy with size 15 boots comes from a rugby league background, but is now on the cusp of a TSS First XV debut off the bench in Queensland\u2019s prestigious GPS competition.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels good. I can\u2019t wait to see what\u2019s possible over the next three years and I\u2019m looking forward to the hard work it will take,\u201d Tafea said.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to make a name for myself in rugby but I know there\u2019s a lot to learn and plenty of improvements to make.<\/p>\n \u201cI see a bit of me when I look at Will [Skelton]. It\u2019s definitely one of my dreams to travel and play rugby.<\/p>\n \u201cThe coaching staff at TSS have helped me a lot and the school has been very welcoming.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m much fitter. Lowering my body height through contact, my ball-carrying and learning more at scrums and lineouts have all been big improvements over the past 12 months.<\/p>\n \u201cRugby suits me. I feel I get more involved with the rucks, lineouts and stuff.<\/p>\n \u201cI keep up with my academics as well. Dad reminds me that I haven\u2019t accomplished anything yet and he\u2019s right. That will come with hard work.\u201d<\/p>\n