Reds to host Blues on Anzac Day as Queensland aims to go at least one step further next season

The Reds won’t settle for just making the quarter-finals in next year’s Super Rugby Pacific competition.

The Reds will host Auckland’s all-conquering Blues in an Anzac Day showdown that looms as the highlight of Queensland’s draw for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.

The Queenslanders also hosted the Blues – who went on to win the title – in this year’s Anzac Round, but next season’s clash between the teams at the same venue has the added significance of being played on April 25.

“We always look forward to welcoming our Australian rivals to Brisbane, but we’re also delighted to be hosting the Blues on Anzac Day following on from the success of that match last year,” Queensland Rugby Union chief executive officer David Hanham said.

With next year’s competition being reduced to 11 teams following the closure of the Melbourne Rebels, the Reds’ draw includes a first-round bye, which will give them extra time to recover from their pre-season trip to the UK and Ireland, where they will meet

Bristol (January 31) and Ulster (February 7).

Queensland’s opening game of its Super Rugby Pacific campaign is a home clash with Moana Pasifika on February 21.

Reds coach Les Kiss said Queensland was targeting, at the very least, to reach the second week of next season’s finals series after last year being knocked out for the past three seasons at the quarter-final stage.

Reds coach Les Kiss wants Queensland to improve on its quarter-final exits of the past three seasons. Picture: David Rowland/ AFP

“The demise of the Rebels has certainly flooded the market with more players,” Kiss said.

“It’s a massive year for us. We made some solid steps last year. We’d certainly like to go at least one game better and get further in the finals series.

“We want to progressively and aggressively develop and evolve our game into a more dangerous style if we can, but we know that each team’s improved.

“It’s going to be a tough competition.”

The Reds also announced on Monday the re-signing of winger Tim Ryan for the next two years.

Ryan, 20, shot to prominence this year when he scored a hat-trick of tries in his first Super Rugby Pacific game as a starter for Reds.

“The thing we love is his commitment to his craft,” Kiss said of Ryan.

“Every part of his preparation is strong and he has a great future because of that.”

Ryan said: “It’s very exciting to have my future at the Reds sorted and to know I’ve had a season under my belt heading towards a new year.

“Having experienced guys in the squad is really important for young guys to keep learning from.”