Fraser McReight has been named captain of the Queensland Reds for the 2026 Super Rugby World Cup Pacific season, stepping into the role previously held by Tate McDermott and Liam Wright. It is a significant milestone for the Wallabies flanker, who has steadily grown into one of Australian rugby’s most respected leaders through both his performances and his professionalism off the field.
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McReight is no stranger to leadership responsibilities. He captained the Reds on two occasions back in 2022 and reached an even bigger landmark last year when he led Australia against South Africa in Cape Town, becoming the 91st player to captain the Wallabies. Before that, he was entrusted with leading the Australia Under-20 side in 2019, an early indication of the leadership potential that coaches have long seen in him.
Now, at 26, McReight takes on the Reds captaincy on a full-time basis, bringing with him experience, maturity, and a deep connection to the club. With 39 Test caps for Australia and seven seasons under his belt with the Brisbane-based franchise, McReight has already built an impressive résumé Rugby World Cup 2027.
His journey has been one of steady progression rather than sudden elevation, and that is something he believes has prepared him well for the challenge ahead. Speaking about his appointment, McReight described the captaincy as a huge honour, particularly given the quality of the players who have preceded him in the role.
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Rugby World Cup: Finding His Own Way as Captain
He paid tribute to both McDermott and Wright, acknowledging the influence they have had on his development as a leader. It means a lot to follow in the footsteps of some great mates and strong leaders, McReight said. Watching Tate and Liam over the past few seasons has shown me what it takes to lead this group properly.
They did a terrific job, and I’ve learned so much from the way they handled themselves, both on and off the field. McReight explained that those lessons have helped him better understand his own leadership style. Rather than trying to imitate others, he is keen to carve out his own path as captain, shaped by his experiences as both a player and a person.
They showed me the path over the past four seasons, he said. Now it’s about finding my own way as a captain, using everything I’ve learned and staying true to who I am. As a two-time Australian Super Rugby Player of the Year, McReight is already one of the standout performers in the competition. However, individual accolades are not his primary focus.
The Reds, he says, are hungry for more success after falling at the quarter-final stage in each of the past four seasons, following their Super Rugby World Cup AU title win in 2021. We’re a team that wants more, McReight said. We’ve been competitive, but we all know we’re capable of going further.
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Rugby World Cup Final: Depth and Experience Key to Reds’ Success
The goal is to be genuine contenders, not just make finals. A major strength of the Reds, in McReight’s view, is the depth and quality of their leadership group. While he wears the captain’s armband, he is quick to stress that leadership within the squad is shared and collaborative. Alongside him are figures such as McDermott and Wallabies captain Harry Wilson Rugby World Cup Final.
Besides experienced campaigners, Jock Campbell and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto. Great teams have lots of leaders, and that’s something we’re really strong in, he said. Harry leads through his actions. As Wallabies captain, he knows when to speak, when to listen, and he asks the right questions. That sets a great example for everyone.
McReight also highlighted the importance of knowing when to lean on others for support. For him, effective leadership is not about having all the answers, but about creating an environment where communication is open, and everyone feels empowered. It’s important for me to know when to ask for help, he explained.
That includes leaning on our senior players, but also on Les and the specialist coaches. Leadership is a shared responsibility. He reserved special praise for McDermott, whose intensity and competitive edge have long been hallmarks of the Reds’ style of play. Tate brings that fierce, rip-in attitude every day, McReight said. As a halfback and game-driver, he naturally demands a lot from the team. Rugby World Cup Final.
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Rugby World Cup semi-final: Shaping the Next Phase of the Reds’ Evolution
Besides, that’s a big part of why he’s such an influential leader. McReight’s commitment to the Reds was underlined last year when he signed a new three-year contract, tying his future to the club through a key period of transition.
He is set to add to his 80 caps for the Reds under head coach Les Kiss, who will step into the Wallabies role midway through the season. Reflecting on his journey, McReight noted that he often found himself as one of the youngest players in squads as he came through the ranks at both Super Rugby and World Cup semi-final and international level.
When you’re young, you have to earn respect through how you perform and how you go about your work every day, he said. I feel like I’ve grown into that now. I’ve got confidence in myself and in the way I lead. Looking ahead, McReight is eager to get stuck into pre-season and help shape the next phase of the Reds’ evolution.
With several younger players coming through, he sees this period as an opportunity to build depth and set standards that will benefit the team long-term. There have been a few tweaks, and the coaches have us in a really good place, he said. There’s a lot of excitement around the group Rugby World Cup semi-final.
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