The Queensland Reds are continuing their push to develop young talent through international opportunities, with centre/winger Xavier Rubens set to spend the Super Rugby Pacific off-season in Japan.

The 21-year-old former Australia Under-20 representative has signed an agreement that will see him join the Panasonic Wild Knights on loan, where he will train in Kumagaya until early November.

Rubens could also feature in trial matches for the Wild Knights during his time in Japan before returning to Queensland for the Reds’ off-season fixtures against the Japan Rugby League One side.

The move follows a similar partnership between the Queensland Reds and Benetton Treviso, which saw several Reds players spend time with the Italian club following the 2025 Super Rugby season.

Rubens said he was excited about the opportunity while also looking forward to securing his future with Queensland.

“Locking in my future for 2027 is great and the Reds creating cool chances like this in Japan is definitely something you don’t get at other clubs,” Rubens said.

“I jumped at the chance in Japan.”

The young back also believes the experience will help him develop both as a rugby player and as an individual.

“Rugby comes first with developing my skills but I also want to experience a different culture and view on rugby,” he added.

Rubens made his Super Rugby debut against the NSW Waratahs in the opening round of the 2026 season and went on to make three appearances for the Reds as a winger.

He later returned to his local club, Souths, where he enjoyed an outstanding campaign in the Hospital Cup, Queensland’s premier club competition.

Rubens finished the season as the competition’s leading try-scorer with 15 tries, establishing himself as a dangerous line-breaking outside centre.

His development could become even more important for the Reds heading into 2027, particularly with Australian centre Hunter Paisami set to move to Japan to join Shizuoka Blue Revs.

That departure could create greater opportunities for Rubens in the Reds’ midfield under new head coach Vern Cotter, who has taken over from Les Kiss.

Rubens remains keen to develop in multiple positions rather than limiting himself to outside centre.

“I play outside centre at club but you keep all doors open so I work hard at wing as well,” he said.

“Training all season at the Reds with Wallabies centres like Josh Flook and Isaac Henry has really helped show me the stamp I need to make on a position.”

The Queensland Reds have increasingly embraced overseas opportunities as a way of giving their emerging players valuable experience during the Super Rugby off-season.

Scrum-half Louis Werchon is another example of the club’s approach. After returning from his loan spell with Benetton, Werchon made 13 appearances for the Reds during the 2026 campaign, producing the best season of his Queensland career.

With Wallabies halfbacks Tate McDermott and Kalani Thomas ahead of him in the Reds’ pecking order, Werchon has since made his move to Italy permanent, signing a two-year contract with Benetton.

However, Queensland remain hopeful of eventually bringing the 23-year-old back to Australia as they continue to use international opportunities to develop their next generation of players.