Aussie lock set for Test debut five years after messy Reds e...

Aussie lock set for Test debut five years after messy Reds exit

Harry Hockings will make his debut for Eddie Jones’ Japan, five years on from his controversial exit from Australian rugby due to a pay dispute. The giant lock, a former under-20 Australian representative tipped by ex-Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn as a potential 100-Test Wallaby, will come off the bench against Wales on Saturday. Hockings and teammates Isaac Lucas and Izack Rodda were stood down by the Reds when they refused to agree to 60 per cent pay cuts accepted by every other Australian Super Rugby player while the competition was suspended due to COVID-19. Rodda, with 25 Test caps, and Lucas were both contracted until 2023. Hockings, 21 at the time, was off contract but in talks for an extension. Rugby Australia released the trio from their deals to end a messy stand-off that riled the Reds and then-coach Thorn in particular. Highly-rated Wallabies lock Rodda spent a season in France before returning to Australia with the Western Force. Hockings and fellow junior Australian representative Lucas, a flyhalf, have plied their trade in Japan ever since. World Rugby’s five-year residency rule means Hockings is now eligible for Japan and Jones has wasted no time adding the towering lock to his bench. Brisbane product Jack Cornelsen, a backrower and Gold Coast-raised centre Dylan Riley will both start in Cardiff for the Brave Blossoms. Louis Rees-Zammit will make his first Wales start since the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Following a spell in American football that ended without him playing a senior NFL game, the winger ended his 18-month absence from international rugby by coming off the bench against Argentina last week. Japan (1–15): Kenta Kobayashi, Kenji Sato, Keijiro Tamefusa, Epineri Uluiviti, Warner Dearns (captain), Jack Cornelsen, Kanji Shimokawa, Faulua Makisi, Naoto Saito, Lee Seung-sin, Tomoki Osada, Charlie Lawrence, Dylan Riley, Kippei Ishida, Yoshitaka Yazaki. Replacements: Shodai Hirao, Sho Furuhata, Shuhei Takeuchi, Harry Hockings, Tyler Paul, Kenta Fukuda, Shinya Komura, Kazuma Ueda. Wales (1–15): Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake (capt), Archie Griffin, Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard, Aaron Wainwright, Alex Mann, Olly Cracknell, Tomos Williams, Dan Edwards, Josh Adams, Ben Thomas, Max Llewellyn, Louis Rees-Zammit, Blair Murray. Replacements: Liam Belcher, Rhys Carre, Keiron Assiratti, Freddie Thomas, Taine Plumtree, Kieran Hardy, Jarrod Evans, Nick Tompkins.

Harry Hockings will make his debut for Eddie Jones’ Japan, five years on from his controversial exit from Australian rugby due to a pay dispute.

The giant lock, a former under-20 Australian representative tipped by ex-Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn as a potential 100-Test Wallaby, will come off the bench against Wales on Saturday.

Hockings and teammates Isaac Lucas and Izack Rodda were stood down by the Reds when they refused to agree to 60 per cent pay cuts accepted by every other Australian Super Rugby player while the competition was suspended due to COVID-19.

Rodda, with 25 Test caps, and Lucas were both contracted until 2023.

Hockings, 21 at the time, was off contract but in talks for an extension.

Rugby Australia released the trio from their deals to end a messy stand-off that riled the Reds and then-coach Thorn in particular.

Highly-rated Wallabies lock Rodda spent a season in France before returning to Australia with the Western Force.

Hockings and fellow junior Australian representative Lucas, a flyhalf, have plied their trade in Japan ever since.

World Rugby’s five-year residency rule means Hockings is now eligible for Japan and Jones has wasted no time adding the towering lock to his bench.

Brisbane product Jack Cornelsen, a backrower and Gold Coast-raised centre Dylan Riley will both start in Cardiff for the Brave Blossoms.

Louis Rees-Zammit will make his first Wales start since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Following a spell in American football that ended without him playing a senior NFL game, the winger ended his 18-month absence from international rugby by coming off the bench against Argentina last week.

Japan (1–15): Kenta Kobayashi, Kenji Sato, Keijiro Tamefusa, Epineri Uluiviti, Warner Dearns (captain), Jack Cornelsen, Kanji Shimokawa, Faulua Makisi, Naoto Saito, Lee Seung-sin, Tomoki Osada, Charlie Lawrence, Dylan Riley, Kippei Ishida, Yoshitaka Yazaki.

Replacements: Shodai Hirao, Sho Furuhata, Shuhei Takeuchi, Harry Hockings, Tyler Paul, Kenta Fukuda, Shinya Komura, Kazuma Ueda.

Wales (1–15): Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake (capt), Archie Griffin, Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard, Aaron Wainwright, Alex Mann, Olly Cracknell, Tomos Williams, Dan Edwards, Josh Adams, Ben Thomas, Max Llewellyn, Louis Rees-Zammit, Blair Murray.

Replacements: Liam Belcher, Rhys Carre, Keiron Assiratti, Freddie Thomas, Taine Plumtree, Kieran Hardy, Jarrod Evans, Nick Tompkins.