Rugby Australia and the Queensland Reds are pleased to announce utility back Filipo Daugunu has signed a one-year deal to return to Brisbane.
The 29-year-old played 69 Super Rugby games during his six previous seasons (2018-23) at the Reds before a strong 2024 stint of 12 games for the Melbourne Rebels.
The popular Daugunu burst onto the scene in 2017 after arriving from his homeland of Fiji.
He carried his speed and try-scoring for the Wests club in Brisbane into the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Rugby Championship for Queensland Country, crossing for a hat-trick of tries in their 42-28 win over Canberra Vikings in the grand final of the 2017 season.
Daugunu scored 22 tries for the Reds in six seasons and made his Test debut against New Zealand in Wellington, having since gone on to represent the Wallaby gold on seven occasions.
Wallabies and Queensland Reds back Filipo Daugunu said: “Queensland is home for me. It’s where it all started. For me to come back, I’m honoured to be here. There will be a lot of familiar faces. I’m happy.”
“For me, it was a good change to go to Melbourne. I played a lot at outside centre and enjoyed the defensive role where you read the play by connecting with your inside centre and the winger on the outside.”
Rugby Australia Director of High-Performance Peter Horne said: “It’s great to have Filipo re-commit to Australian Rugby.”
“He’s a versatile player with an impressive skillset who will continue to add plenty of value to both the Wallabies and the Reds.”
Queensland Reds head coach Les Kiss said: “It’s fantastic that Filipo has returned to Queensland. He’s much respected and we’re really pleased he has chosen to come home.”
“He gives us great cover in the midfield and outside backs.”
Position: Outside centre/Outside back
Height: 181cm
Weight: 98kg
Born: 4 March, 1995
Place of birth: Labasa, Fiji
Test debut: 2020 v New Zealand in Wellington
Test caps: 7
Super Rugby debut: 2018 v Melbourne Rebels in Melbourne (playing for the Queensland Reds)
Super Rugby caps: 12 (Melbourne Rebels); 69 (Queensland Reds)
Wallabies v Wales, 7:45pm AEST, Saturday July 6 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies v Wales, 7:45pm AEST, Saturday July 13 at AAMI Park, Melbourne
Wallabies v Georgia, 3:45pm AEST, Saturday July 20 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies v South Africa, 2:30pm AEST, Saturday August 10 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Wallabies v South Africa, 5:45pm AWST, Saturday August 17 at Optus Stadium, Perth
Wallabies v New Zealand, 3:45pm AEST, Saturday September 21 at Accor Stadium, Sydney
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