Reds Finalise Experienced Coaching Team for 2027

The Queensland Reds have assembled their full coaching team for 2027 with experienced assistants Peter Hewat and Craig McGrath heading to Ballymore.

The duo have signed on for 2027-28 to join new Head Coach Vern Cotter and established assistant coach Zane Hilton at the helm to guide the Reds’ next campaign.

The Queensland Rugby Union is delighted to today unveil the full coaching team that draws on significant experience in Super Rugby and top-tier international competitions.

Hewat, 48, will join the Reds as attack coach from English club Leicester Tigers while McGrath, 52, will arrive as defence coach after working beside Cotter for the past three seasons at the Auckland-based Blues.

“On and off the field, there are lots of foundations in place for the Reds to be successful and I’m really excited to get to work,” Hewat said.

“From afar, I’ve admired what Les Kiss and his coaching team have built. The Reds play an attacking style, a style I’m familiar with and like to coach. I’m looking forward to adding to what’s in place and combining it with the edge Vern is known for."

After his schooling at Nudgee College, Hewat played club rugby for Norths and GPS in Brisbane and the Queensland Under-21s before his playing career took off with a move to Sydney.

He played 50 games for the NSW Waratahs (2005-07) as a winger-fullback before playing overseas and jumping into his coaching career at Suntory Sungoliath in Japan in 2013.

Five seasons as an assistant coach at Suntory fed into his backs and attack coach role with the ACT Brumbies for three seasons (2018-20).

Coaching the Australian Schools and Under-18s side in 2019 gave him an early grasp of the ability of now-Reds Carter Gordon, Joe Brial, Zane Nonggorr, Kalani Thomas and George Blake.

Four years at the Ricoh Black Rams in Tokyo (2020-24) included three seasons as Head Coach before his two-year stint with Leicester.

“Coaching in Super Rugby, in Japan and in England has opened my eyes to the different ways the game can be played and made me a better coach,” Hewat said.

McGrath will link the Reds with an intimate knowledge of coach Cotter’s methods and style.

McGrath’s role in the Blues’ drought-breaking 2024 surge to the Super Rugby Pacific title followed two seasons (2022-23) as an assistant under previous coach Leon MacDonald.

He has built a well-rounded resume internationally over the past decade with four seasons as an assistant coach with the Melbourne Rebels (2015-18) and time with Japan’s Honda Heat.

Coaching beside senior assistant Hilton at the Rebels was a positive relationship that the pair will take into their Reds work together. McGrath also worked as a defence coach for one tour with Hilton for Samoa in 2018.  

A head coaching stint with Auckland (2023-24) was the highlight of McGrath's time in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.

As a player, he was an accomplished halfback who was part of the Blues’ 2003 Super Rugby-winning squad and a Maori All Black.

McGrath said a combination of factors made working with the Reds highly appealing.

“One is my relationship with Vern. I’ve worked with him the last three years and I wanted that to continue,” McGrath said.

“Vern’s way of doing things is something that can add edge to the Reds. I saw how big his imprint was on the Blues in 2024 when they won their first Super Rugby title in 21 years.

“What really sold it is the squad assembled at the Reds, the seasoned players and those coming through the High-Performance pathways.

“I’m really excited about the Australia Under-20s and young players coming through the Queensland system and working with them for the future.

“I do really enjoy working with young players and the push for places they don’t think they can get to. Being part of their development into good players and good young men is very satisfying.”

Cotter, Hilton, Hewat and McGrath will join forces in the lead-up to the Super Rugby AUS competition kicking off in September.

"We have targeted a highly experienced coaching group capable of building on the  foundations established over recent years," said Sam Cordingley, Reds General Manager, High Performance.

"We believe this coaching team gives us a strong platform to compete for championships. We are all excited for Vern, Peter and Craig to join the Reds."