Aidan Ross to link with Queensland Reds after a farewell season with the Chiefs

Australia-born All Blacks prop Aidan Ross will part ways with the Chiefs after next year’s Super Rugby Pacific season to join the Queensland Reds.

Ross hails from Gosford and spent the first eight years of his life in Australia before moving across the Tasman with his New Zealand-born parents.

Having been with the Chiefs since 2017, the 29-year-old front-rower will spend one more season with the Waikato-based team before linking with the Reds on a multi-year deal.

“The Reds have excellent facilities at Ballymore and I have respected the club’s DNA for a long time from some great wins and big losses when we have met on the field,” Ross said.

“After talking to their coaches (head coach Les Kiss and assistant Zane Hilton), I saw how appealing it would be to work under them.”

Ross also said it was a “good time to do something different off-shore”.

“The attraction with Australia is that I can go there and not be a foreign player,” said Ross, who made his sole All Blacks appearance in 2022 against Ireland.

“It’s appealing to also be close to family because my partner and I now have our own family with young (17-month-old) Albie.”

However, Ross’ immediate focus is finishing his career with the Chiefs on a high.“I’ve been at the Chiefs since day dot. I want the team to have a huge season in 2025 and finish in a big way because I owe so much to the franchise, the coaches and my teammates for moulding me as a rugby player,” he said.

“I’m all in with the Chiefs for next season.”

The Reds already have two other former All Blacks props – Alex Hodgman and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen – in their squad.

In July, Hodgman – whose father is Australian – became just the fourth player to represent the All Blacks and the Wallabies.