Former All Blacks prop Aidan Ross will leave New Zealand’s shores after the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season to pursue an opportunity in Australia. On Monday, the Queensland Rugby Union revealed that Ross had signed with the Reds on a multi-year deal from the middle of next year.
Ross has been a reliable member of the Chiefs since debuting for the club in their 16-7 win over the Western Force on April 22, 2017. The loosehead prop became a matchday regular for the Super Rugby Pacific giants, which saw him play in the 2023 and 2024 Grand Finals.
The 29-year-old played one Test for the All Blacks during his time in New Zealand, and that was a blockbuster against Ireland during coach Ian Foster’s reign in 2022. Ross has also played for the All Blacks XV and recently impressed with the Bay of Plenty during their run to the NPC Final.
While the 118-kilogram enforcer is firmly focused on the season ahead with the Chiefs, the opportunity to move across the ditch was too good to turn down. Ross was born in Gosford on the Central Coast, north of Sydney, and is eligible for the Wallabies from July.
Ross spent eight years in Australia before moving to Tauranga. But now that Ross has a young family of his own, the front-rower was eager to explore some of the broader opportunities that the sport has to offer players.
“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,” Ross said in a statement.
“Beyond that it is 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. It’s appealing to also be close to family because my partner and I now have my own family with young (17-month-old) Albie.”
Ross played 14 matches for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific this season, and only one of those appearances came off the pine. The prop scored one try in the round 15 loss to the Blues in Auckland before packing down in the team’s run to the Super Rugby Pacific decider.
In the big dance, which was also away to the Blues at Eden Park, Ross played more than 65 minutes at the popular Auckland venue. But it wasn’t the Chiefs’ day as they went down 40-10 in a one-sided annihilation in the battle for title glory.
After the Super Rugby season, Ross’ attention turned towards the National Provincial Championship (NPC) season with Bay of Plenty. Ross was used as a regular starter for that team as well, with the Steamers charging towards the Final which was away to the Wellington Lions.
Unfortunately for Ross, the Bay lost that clash at Sky Stadium in an all-time classic extra-time contest. As Ross explained in a press release, “I’ve had a gutful of finishing second so one ambition is pretty clear.”
The one-Test All Black enjoyed a two-day visit to Brisbane during the off-season and has since made the decision to sign with the Reds. Former All Blacks Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen and Alex Hodgman are also on the books at the Brisbane-based club.
“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 added.
“After talking to their coaches (head coach Les Kiss and assistant Zane Hilton) I saw how appealing it would be to work under them.
“Like I said, that’s for the future. I’m all in with the Chiefs for next season.”
