QUEENSLAND REDS TEAM FACING WILD KNIGHTS IN JAPAN

Sunday’s match against the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights will be a trial without fans at the 24,000-seat Kumagaya Rugby Stadium.

The closed-doors fixture will be played with extended benches to provide opportunities for the extra talent being blooded by both camps to repeat the tour formula when the clubs met in 2022 and 2023.

The match is a precursor to the full cap clash between the Reds and the leading Japanese club on November 4 when a crowd of more than 10,000 fans is expected.