The Queensland Reds have announced the signing of two former All Blacks props and one of them has his sights set on a switch to the Wallabies.
As first reported by Christy Doran in The Roar two weeks ago, Alex Hodgman has signed a two-year deal to ease the departure of Taniela Tupou. The Reds also announced the signing of Jeffery Toomaga-Allen through to the end of 2025.
The pair bring more than 250 games of experience across Super Rugby, Premiership Rugby and the United Rugby Championship to the Reds squad, while both have represented New Zealand at Test level.
Hodgman, 27, and Toomaga-Allen, 32, will join newly appointed head coach Les Kiss at Ballymore for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season. Toomaga-Allen played one Test in 2013 and Hodgman four in 2020.
In a media statement, the Reds said Hodgman is eligible to represent the Wallabies post Rugby World Cup through World Rugby’s Regulation 8 eligibility law.
Hodgman didn’t rule it out in an interview with the Brisbane Times.
“I don’t want to talk about it too much,” Hodgman said.
“I’m always pushing to be the best that I can be, so if things fall in place and there’s an opportunity to play, I’d definitely love to take it.
“[For now] It’s just how do I get to the Reds, how do I do my best there, how do I grow, how do I get the most out of that environment, that’s it.
“One step at a time for me”.
Alex Hodgman and Richie Mo’unga of the All Blacks celebrate after winning the Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on October 18, 2020. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
Hodgman added: “I’m looking forward to moving over to Australia with my family and starting new with the Reds.
“Change is good but also comes with its challenges and that excites me.
“A new facility, new coach and a playing group that has been together for a while allows me to bring my experience and just be me.
“I’m blessed to be here and can’t wait to get started.”
Toomaga-Allen said: “I can’t wait to join the club.
“I’m excited to be coming back to Super Rugby after being away for a few years and getting to know everyone at the Reds.
“I’m feeling really blessed to be able to be closer to family which is a big part of why I joined the organisation.
“When speaking to Les and Sam, we talked about the importance of family and how we as a team can keep growing as a unit on-and-off the field which was a big drawcard for me.
“I’m keen to get amongst the community in Queensland and looking forward to connecting with all the supporters around the state.”
Kiss said: “We’re pleased to welcome two props of the calibre of Alex and Jeffery to our squad.
“Both bring experience at the highest level and will strengthen our tight five on-and-off the field.
“There’s been a strong culture of care and connection built at Ballymore over the past few years. After talking to both Alex and Jeff, they both have a team-first mentality and will only bolster these values over the next two seasons.
“In addition, having a player of Alex’s ability qualifying for Wallaby selection in 2024 is great for Australian Rugby.”
Loosehead prop Hodgman attended Auckland’s Mount Albert Grammar School and was part of the Blues U18s program before representing Fiji at the U20s World Cup in 2012.
He switched allegiances to represent New Zealand in the same tournament the following year, before making the move to Canterbury.
After impressing in the National Provincial Championship (NPC), Hodgman debuted for the Crusaders in 2015 and went on to earn nine caps for the club.
He returned to Auckland in 2017 to take up a contract with the Blues and has since played 56 Super Rugby games for the franchise.
After an impressive Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign in 2020, Hodgman was named to make his All Blacks debut against Australia at Eden Park and featured off the bench in a 27-7 win over the Wallabies.
He went on to play a further three Tests over the next two seasons, while World Rugby’s eligibility laws will see him available for the Wallabies this November.
Toomaga-Allen brings over a decade of experience both in Super Rugby and abroad.
Born in Wellington, the 192cm-tall tighthead debuted for the Hurricanes in 2012 after impressing at U20s level for New Zealand and in the NPC for his home city.
He made his All Blacks debut the following season, featuring in his sole Test against Japan in 2013.
Cemented in the Hurricanes lineup, Toomaga-Allen came off the bench in his side’s losing 2015 Super Rugby Grand Final, before injury ruled him out of their title win against the Lions the next year.
Toomaga-Allen returned to the All Blacks squad in 2017, featuring against the Barbarians on the Spring Tour, and was again selected in the national squad once again the following season.
He notched his 100th Super Rugby cap for the Hurricanes in 2018, becoming just the 15th player to do so for the Wellington-based club.
2019 saw Toomaga-Allen take his talents to the Northern Hemisphere where he played 61 matches for Wasps in the English Premiership.
A move to Ulster followed in 2022, while the prop also made his debut for Samoa, playing three matches on their end of year tour.
Toomaga-Allen will play his Queensland club Rugby for Norths, while Hodgman has committed his services to Sunnybank.
The pair will join recently re-signed Fijian international Peni Ravai and new recruit Massimo De Lutiis alongside World Cup-bound Wallabies Matt Faessler and Zane Nonggorr in the Reds frontrow.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
I think he’s world clack as a scrummager, but it may have helped his work rate around the paddock.
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
that rings a bell re contractual conditions.. Its good his bro/family was in queensland as he had offers from Uk /France etc. He likely would be a better scrummager if he chose them!
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
I hope so. Lots of gentrification around Norths. Hopefully that translates into more rugby players like it did for Easts. But sadly rugby's inability to see grassroots as anything more then private school boy/old school tie will mean sunnybank won't get back to its former glory
Wheelbarrow
Roar Rookie
Future capable yes. currently capable ? in question & from what i have seen he will struggle, lets see - happy to be proven wrong.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Norths, previously as Teachers, have won premierships, as has Sunnybank. I’m sure both will have another day in the sun.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
His older brother was playing for Brothers in Brisbane. Plus wasn’t there some unreasonable aspect to the contract he’d been offered by NZR?
GC Red
Roar Rookie
I’m not sure that’s what you meant. But let’s give you the benefit of the doubt. I would suggest that there are plenty of people who think that he is exactly capable of being an international prop. Note – Being consistently selected at all levels of representative Rugby may suggest he has a decent amount of talent There is no nepotism or special connection into the board at the reds or Wallabies for Zane, so it could suggest that everyone else is right, and you may not be.
Wheelbarrow
Roar Rookie
Agreed. Thor still took time.
Wheelbarrow
Roar Rookie
He is young and shouldn’t be put in that position. Holding the scrum is key role and needs to do this first,like a hooker throwing the ball In. If they struggle to do that or is not ready please don’t pick him as these are key roles and need the set piece stable. All I’m Saying is there are better scrummers out there.
Wheelbarrow
Roar Rookie
I think that’s what I said- Hopefully he listens and takes it onboard to be a wallaby. He is young. Note - being an around good guy doesn’t always mean he is a test level Player.
GC Red
Roar Rookie
He is actually a great bloke. He was well loved at school where he was captain of his First 15, as well as a school captain. A great kid, humble as they come and a role model for all the boys at his school. He comes back all the time to help out with Junior rugby. How about we get behind our young up and coming players rather than trash them.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
I don’t think it is a deliberate strategy to undermine NZ. Australia is a country that needs immigrants just to sustain its economy and population. As a desirable destination we have the luxury to be selective of the kind of immigrants that we would prefer e.g. favouring those that are young and have the skills that Australians need. Those with a criminal background doesn’t qualify for visas or their visas are cancelled and those that don’t need visas are send back to their home country. Nothing stops NZ from doing the same. In fact NZ also benefit as immigration destination for people that is looking for opportunities. I have family from South Africa in NZ that did exactly that – educated people like doctors, teachers etc that South Africa also needs. In the modern world your wealth, health, life expectancy, quality of education and lifestyle are more determined by where you live than your education, work ethic or abilities. People will move to improve their lives – choice is good.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
On a wider issue, consider this ... the previous Coalition government deported hardened criminal Kiwis back to NZ thereby inflating NZ's criminal problem. Now Qld, for one, has begun recruiting in NZ for Kiwi cops to join their police force. Ditto, I suspect, for medical and teaching professionals. These are Kiwi professionals who have been actively recruited to cross the ditch and the selling point is money, not lifestyle. My aunt who lives in NZ and has never lived anywhere else said this recruitment campaign has been noticed and is creating a certain level of anger. This situation with rugby is a mirror of that. Australians may like to point out that they are a country of 26 million compared to NZ's five million but, geez, they sure do behave as if their country is only 5 million as well. From a NZ point of view, Hamish McLennan needs to bring his Super Rugby franchises in line (HA!) or else NZ needs to start playing hardball; I was going to say harderball but I'm not convinced NZ is playing hardball.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Spot on RH, I will correct my post…we can do with “a couple more GOOD young upcoming props”.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
You've already got plenty of Queensland props ... Wagner, Hoopert, Romano.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
There are many Kiwis that work in Australia, some moved to Australia later in their career. Why would Rugby be any different? The power of choice… it is a win-win for everyone.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
If they are concerned about getting game time…the Force can do with a couple more young upcoming props.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
His progress will be accelerated with this season. IMO on track to be a top class test tighthead by around the 2027 RWC. Tightheads take time.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Good call out
moaman
Roar Guru
They are keeping their bad sportsmanship to themselves. I think the Irish well and truly let that cat out of the bag during/after the Dublin 'rematch' following their first win at Chicago. Whining and ref-blaming is worse than booing a kicker, to me, in terms of sportsmanship). Actually, I have vivid memories of Aaron Cruden's retaken conversion a few years earlier being soundly booed now that I think about it. I can't say a bad word about Japanese fans but I am positive they will have their fair share of clowns too. Booing a kicker, or a favourite villain from the opposition can often have an element of pantomime about it I believe. A sort of crown-participation and probably something that is here to stay. I have done it myself at the cricket......Brett Lee (incidentally one of my favourite Aussie players) was a wanker! That was all done in light-hearted fashion and he seemed to enjoy it fielding there at fine leg. Having said all that, I didn't like kiwi fans booing QC's every touch of the ball at Dunedin so I suppose I am confused about what crosses a line and what doesn't. :unhappy: