Queensland Rugby confirms Liam Gill to depart at end of season
Queensland Rugby Union today confirmed Liam Gill will depart the St.George Queensland Reds at the end of the season to take up a contract in France.
Gill is in his sixth season with the St.George Queensland Reds, after making his debut in 2011. He has played 65 games for Queensland in that time, as well as 15 Tests for the Wallabies.
Executive General Manager – Reds, Daniel Herbert said: “It’s disappointing to be losing Liam to an overseas club, but we understand he has weighed up his options and decided this was too good an opportunity to refuse.
“Liam is a talented player and someone who has made a great contribution to the Reds over the past six years after graduating from our elite pathways system. He has international aspirations but plays in a position in which Australia have significant depth and he felt he would have limited Wallaby opportunities.
“Whilst we are disappointed to see him go there are limitations to what we are currently able to do if players garner overseas interest and aren’t in the top band of Wallabies. We hoped a flexible contract would encourage Liam to stay in Queensland and Australia but in the end he felt this was his best option all things considered.
“We know his focus will remain on the Reds while he is still at Ballymore and hope his final year with us is a successful one.”
Gill said it was a tough call to make but that he would use it to help fuel his final season at the Reds.
“It was a very difficult decision, but I felt the time was right to challenge myself and play rugby in a different environment,” he said.
“I feel I have done as much as I can in Australian Rugby and now look to enjoy a new opportunity.
“It’s really difficult to leave the Reds, but I’m excited by the opportunity this current group has for the season. This news just gives me even more drive to repay the faith of the QRU and the support of our fans.”
Originally a member of the Reds Academy, Gill earned a full Super Rugby contract at just 17 years of age. He made his Queensland debut during the Reds’ victorious 2011 campaign and made his Test debut the following year.
Liam Gill
Position: Openside flanker
Height: 184cm
Weight: 96kg
Born: 08/06/1992
Place of birth: Melbourne, VIC
Senior Club: Sunnybank
School: St. Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace
Representative Honours: Australian Schools (2009), Australian Sevens (2009-2010), Commonwealth Games Sevens (2010, 2014) Australian Under 20s (2010-2012), Queensland (2011-), Australian Wallabies (2012-), Brisbane City NRC (2014-).
Queensland debut: 2011 v Brumbies, Canberra
Queensland caps: 65
Queensland points: 35 (7T)
Test debut: 2012 v New Zealand, Auckland
Test caps: 15
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