Reagan Campbell-Gillard


Reagan Campbell-Gillard, also known by the nicknames of "Reggie" or "RCG", is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL. He has played for Fiji and Australia at international level.
He has played for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League. He has also played for City Origin, Prime Minister's XIII, World All Stars and New South Wales in the 2018 State of Origin series.

Background

Campbell-Gillard was born in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia and is of Fijian descent. The son of Warwick Gillard and Georgina Campbell, Campbell-Gillard commented that he never knew his father, saying "I don’t speak to him. I haven’t had a father my whole life." Raised in Mount Druitt, New South Wales by his single mother, a Fijian emigrant,
Campbell-Gillard played his junior rugby league for the Rooty Hill Dragons but gave up the sport, and instead played soccer and hockey during his early teens. He returned to rugby league playing for the Windsor Wolves at the suggestion of his Hills Sports High School-classmate Kieren Moss, and was subsequently recruited by the Penrith Panthers to play in their S. G. Ball Cup team.
Campbell-Gillard is the cousin of the Sims siblings; fellow Fijian internationals Ashton, Tariq and Korbin and dual-code women's rugby international Ruan.

Playing career

Early career

In 2012 and 2013, Campbell-Gillard played for the Panthers' NYC team. On 24 April 2013, he re-signed with the Panthers on a three-year contract. On 27 August 2013, Campbell-Gillard was named on the interchange bench in the 2013 NYC Team of the Year. On 6 October 2013, Campbell-Gillard played in the Panthers Holden Cup Grand final against the New Zealand Warriors, starting at prop in the 42-30 victory. On 13 October 2013, Campbell-Gillard played for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis, playing off the interchange bench in the 38-26 win at Jubilee Oval. In 2014, he graduated to the Panthers' New South Wales Cup team. In 2014, Campbell-Gillard graduated to the Panthers New South Wales Cup team. On 3 May 2014, Campbell-Gillard made his international debut for Fiji against Samoa in the 2014 Pacific Rugby League International, playing off the interchange bench in the 32-16 loss at Penrith Stadium. On 19 October 2014, Campbell-Gillard would again play for Fiji against Lebanon in the 2014 Hayne/Mannah Cup, starting at prop in the 40-28 win at Shark Park.

2015

In January 2015, Campbell-Gillard was named in the Panthers 2015 NRL Auckland Nines squad. In Round 1 of the 2015 NRL season, Campbell-Gillard made his NRL debut for the Penrith Panthers against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, playing off the interchange bench in the 24-18 win at Penrith Stadium. After playing in 8 matches for the Panthers, on 3 May 2015, Campbell-Gillard was selected to play for City Origin against Country Origin, playing off the interchange bench in the 34-22 loss in Wagga Wagga. On 9 June 2015, Campbell-Gillard re-signed with the Panthers on a 4-year contract. In Round 23 against the New Zealand Warriors, Campbell-Gillard scored his first NRL career try in the 24-10 win at Penrith Stadium. Campbell-Gillard finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in all of the Panthers 24 matches and scoring 1 try in the 2015 NRL season. On 26 September 2015, Campbell-Gillard played for the Prime Minister's XIII against Papua New Guinea, starting at prop in the 40-12 win in Port Moresby.

2016

On 8 May 2016, Campbell-Gillard again played for City Origin against Country Origin, starting at prop in the 44-30 win in Tamworth. In Round 25 against the Gold Coast Titans, Campbell-Gillard suffered a season ending back injury after he was hit by a late shoulder charge in the back by Ryan James during the Panthers 15-14 win at Robina Stadium. Campbell-Gillard had 2 vertebrae fractured and couldn’t change out of his playing kit for 2 days due to the seriousness of the injury. Campbell-Gillard finished the 2016 NRL season playing in 20 matches and scoring 2 tries for the Panthers.

2017

On 10 February 2017, Campbell-Gillard returned from a broken back to represent his Fijian heritage while playing for the World All Stars against the Indigenous All Stars, starting at prop in the 34-8 loss at Hunter Stadium. After showing great form at the front when the Panthers climbed up the ladder in make it into the finals series after winning 11 from 13 matches, at the 2017 Dally M Awards night, Campbell-Gillard received with the inaugural Dally M Interchange Player of the Year award. Campbell-Gillard finished his best season up to date with him playing in all of the Panthers 26 matches and scoring 3 tries in the 2017 NRL season. On 4 October 2017, Campbell-Gillard was awarded with the Merv Cartwright Medal as the Panthers Player of the Year. After he was originally going to play represent Fiji in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, on 5 October 2017, Campbell-Gillard received a well deserved call up into the Australia Kangaroos 24-man squad after the withdrawal of Andrew Fifita who switched over to play for Tonga. On 27 October 2017, Campbell-Gillard made his international debut for Australia against England, playing off the interchange bench in the 18-4 win at AAMI Park. Campbell-Gillard played in 5 matches in the tournament including playing off the interchange bench in the Kangaroos 6-0 gritty World Cup Final win over England at Suncorp Stadium.

2018

Campbell-Gillard started the 2018 season in red hot form up front as the Panthers are holding into a spot in the top 4. Campbell-Gillard’s efforts would reward him with selection in the New South Wales squad. On 6 June 2018, Campbell-Gillard made his representative debut for New South Wales in Game 1 of the 2018 State of Origin series against Queensland, starting at prop as the Blues won 22-12 at the MCG.

2019

On 14 September 2019, Campbell-Gillard was granted a release by Penrith to take up a 5-year deal with the Parramatta Eels that would end in 2024. Campbell-Gillard later spoke of his move to Parramatta saying “I’ve known this club for nearly 10 years. You want to be a one-club man, but we’re in a business that doesn’t allow you for it, I’m nervous, excited, but sad at the same time, to move on, It was one of those years that I really want to forget, I really hated rugby league this year. It’s just been a frustrating year.

2020

Campbell-Gillard made his debut for Parramatta in round 1 of the 2020 NRL season against arch rivals Canterbury-Bankstown. Parramatta would go on to win the match 8-2.
In round 11 against Wests Tigers, Campbell-Gillard scored his first try for Parramatta, a 50-metre solo effort in which he beat three Wests players on the way to the try line. Parramatta would go on to win the match 26-16 at Bankwest Stadium.