He has been an influential part of the Chiefs for 88 games, to date.
“I’ve been at the Chiefs since day dot. I want the team to have a huge season in 2025 and finish in a big way because I owe so much to the franchise, the coaches and my teammates for moulding me as a rugby player,” Ross said.
“This team has meant so much to me and my family. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been provided while wearing the jersey.”
He said now was a “good time to do something different offshore”.
“The attraction with Australia is that I can go there and not be a foreign player. It’s appealing to also be close to family, because my partner and I now have our own family with young [17-month-old] Albie.”
Gallagher Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan wished Ross all the best for his next adventure.
“Aidan has given a lot to this team, and we support him and his family in making the move next season. He has been an asset to us on and off the field, and I have no doubt he will be the same for the Reds.”
Ross made a quick two-day visit to Brisbane during the off-season to check out the set-up at what was then his potential future home.
“The Reds have excellent facilities at Ballymore, and I have respected the club’s DNA for a long time [in light of] some great wins and big losses when we have met on the field,” Ross said.
“After talking to their coaches [head coach Les Kiss and assistant Zane Hilton], I saw how appealing it would be to work under them.
“Like I said, that’s for the future. I’m all in with the Chiefs for next season.”
Ross will be the third New Zealand-capped prop to represent the Reds in recent seasons, following Alex Hodgman and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen.
Born in Gosford, New South Wales then returning with his Kiwi parents to New Zealand at age 8, the now-29-year-old could wear the Wallabies’ gold after last representing New Zealand in July 2022.
With the three-year stand-down period, he’d be eligible for Australia upon his arrival.
Meanwhile, fellow one-cap All Black Shaun Stevenson is seeking to leave New Zealand rugby with immediate effect, but uncertainty remains about whether he will be granted an early release from his Chiefs contract.
The outside back is contracted to New Zealand Rugby, the Chiefs and North Harbour through to the end of the 2025 season.
However, the 28-year-old is attempting to negotiate an early release from New Zealand Rugby to sign a lucrative long-term deal with Japanese Top League club Kubota Spears.
