Those Kiwis who mostly remember Michael Brial for his infamous tangle with Frank Bunce in a 1996 Bledisloe Cup clash might be surprised to learn the Wallaby later lived among them, having moved his family from Sydney to New Zealand. Joe Brial was seven at the time, and he then spent his primary school years in Queenstown, playing rugby and dozens of other sports.
“Sport for me growing up was a major part of my life. You know mum and dad chucked me in everything,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s because I was up to mischief and they wanted to try and settle me down. If you spoke to mum that was probably the case.”
Joe Brial (back row, second from right) playing for the Australian Schools and under 18s in 2019. Dan Botha, Billy Pollard, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Tolu Koula were also in the side.Credit: Instagram
Brial came back to Sydney to attend the Scots College, where rugby became his main game. He played in junior Waratahs teams, for NSW schools and ultimately played in the Australian Schools and under-18s team in 2019. In a team also featuring Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Billy Polllard, Tolu Koula and Josh Flook, the Aussie schoolboys beat New Zealand.
But after graduating, Brial flew back across the Tasman and joined the prestigious Crusaders academy.
“Obviously it’s hard to say no to something like that,” he said. “I couldn’t speak of it any more highly. I made some lifelong friends and those formative years really set me up.”
Brial played back row for the Crusaders academy, and later for Canterbury in the NPC, too. In 2022, he was selected to play for the New Zealand under-20s, leading to Brial playing with a silver fern on his chest in the under-20s Rugby Championship.
Joe Brial (holding shield, right) in Aussie colours, and playing for the New Zealand under 20s.Credit: Instagram
“It was definitely a bit unusual, but I loved it,” Brial said. “We had [All Black lock] Fabian Holland in that team, who’s from the Netherlands, so I was probably more Kiwi than him. It was a unique opportunity for me. Playing Aussie schools and then New Zealand under-20s, that doesn’t happen very often. But I was super excited to get that opportunity, it was an awesome experience.”
At this point in Brial’s life, he’d spent about half his life in Australia and half in New Zealand, and represented both. Choosing one could have been a fork in the road but in 2023, when the Queensland Reds offered him a full-time deal, the choice felt easy: he’d come “home”. Or at least make a new one.
“There was lots of like exciting things about the Reds: the new facility, new coach,” Brial said. “And I think you’ve probably seen that in the last few years it’s been pretty exciting here. It’s been outstanding for the development of my game.”
As a 195cm, 114kg back-rower, Brial’s athleticism and strength also caught the eye of Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt. He played for Australia A against England in late 2024, and again in Japan in 2025 and, given Schmidt selects those sides, it was a strong indication he is on the Wallabies radar.
Queensland Reds forward Joe Brial with his father, Michael.
That seemed clear, too, when Brial was picked to play for the AUNZ team against the Lions in Adelaide last year. He was the only one who’d worn both colours before.
But there are no longer divided loyalties for Brial, who is intent on following in his father’s footsteps.
Loading
“Definitely the Australian jersey is a goal of mine,” Brial said. “For me that’s just trying to be the best version of myself here at the Reds, and be the best person for the team. That [potential Wallabies selection] stuff is not up to me, it just flows from the work.”
He’ll be in the red corner on Friday night, but Brial will have “20 to 30” family members in the stands at Allianz Stadium. It’ll almost feel like home.
But not really.
