Australia U20s captain Tom Robinson Re-Signs with Reds

Australia Under-20s captain Tom Robinson has been re-signed on a two-year deal through 2028, the Queensland Rugby Union is pleased to announce.

Becoming a fully-fledged member of the Queensland Reds squad is upbeat news for Robinson, 20, while in Japan on the China Airlines Reds International Tour.

He played 40 minutes as blindside flanker in last weekend’s non-cap warm-up win against Japan’s Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights.

The Reds are now preparing for Saturday’s Saitama Queensland Shield clash against the Wild Knights in Kumagaya before matches in Italy against an Italy XV (November 20) and Benetton Rugby (November 27).

Robinson made his debut for the Reds against Tonga in Nuku’alofa last year and the club’s proactive scheduling of international matches has accelerated his development and players like him.

“The Reds have been very good at providing those extra steps up from club level. You get a lot out of tour games,” Robinson said.

“For example, the Japanese play a very different, high tempo, offloading game that utilises their speed and fitness. You have to learn and adapt on the run which is experience I've got playing the Wild Knights in Toowoomba and Japan.

“I’m really excited to re-sign with the Reds. It’s everything I wanted and I’m very happy being around Ballymore.”

Australia U20s standout Robinson is something of a poster boy for the Reds’ pathways system.

Last year, he became the first player to progress from the Emerging Reds Cup U16s all the way to the Reds. Along the way, he has been involved in Reds U16s, U18s and U20s teams plus this year's Reds Development Squad.

His leadership as captain of the Australia U18s (2025) and U20s (2026) has been backed up by being named the Buildcorp Reds Academy Player of the Year last year.

“This year, being involved, with and against, some of the best players in Australia on a daily basis at Reds training has been huge for me,” Robinson said.

“Again, it is that step up. You continually have work-ons like improving at the defensive breakdown to disrupt and slow the opposition like Fraser (McReight) does so well.”

Robinson is seeing the value of a Super Rugby AUS campaign and this four-game tour under new Reds Head Coach Vern Cotter.

“Vern puts an emphasis on workrate and winning collisions as a team. The value of a tour is getting closer and nothing improves preparation more than playing games,” Robinson said.

Cotter said Robinson had left a positive impression from his first weeks at Ballymore.

“Tom has an excellent work ethic and skills to play more than one position in the backrow,” Cotter said.

“This tour is an ideal way to keep advancing his good habits and build his experience for the role he will play over the next two years.”