{"id":1158739,"date":"2026-08-20T04:29:18","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T04:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1158739\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T04:29:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T04:29:18","slug":"bayley-kuenzle-opens-up-on-glasgow-move-and-his-enduring-wallabies-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1158739\/","title":{"rendered":"Bayley Kuenzle opens up on Glasgow move and his enduring Wallabies dream"},"content":{"rendered":"

Moving overseas on a two-year deal would seem, on paper, to close the door on that childhood dream but Kuenzle doesn\u2019t see it that way. The 28-year-old has studied Glasgow\u2019s form both in the URC and the Champions Cup over the last few years and believes that, if he can be playing regularly and well in a winning team. then it can only improve his chances of a belated Australia call-up.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still the dream to play for the Wallabies,\u201d he reveals. \u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate what happened. I had a really good season with the Force and I was on the fringes of the [Australia] squad. Trying to keep fit, I told Joe that I might play some club rugby and he was pretty on board with that. And then 10 minutes into that game, I dislocated my knee.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is what it is, that\u2019s rugby. You can\u2019t control those things. It\u2019s obviously been a tough couple of years. Even last year, when I finished the Super Rugby season, the knee wasn\u2019t still quite right. I had another surgery with my meniscus, so that was another six months. And then at the start of the year, I was back into it. It\u2019s been a tough couple of years with the injuries, but you can\u2019t control those things. I\u2019m feeling fresh now, I\u2019m feeling really good, so hopefully I can put my best foot forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

And does Kuenzle, who isn\u2019t Scottish-qualified, believe playing for Australia one day is still achievable, even playing club rugby in Europe for Franco Smith<\/strong>\u2019s side?<\/p>\n

\u201cOne hundred percent,\u201d he answers emphatically. \u201cYou\u2019ve just got to play good rugby, I guess. This is a great club to do that with the amount of Scotland boys in there. Obviously, they\u2019re one of the best in the world, as you can tell. With the way that Franco\u2019s got the boys going, it\u2019s quite exciting. I\u2019m just focusing on that, doing a job for Glasgow, and who knows what could happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is a big move for the Sydney-born versatile back who has spent the last seven years in Super Rugby with first the Brumbies and then, from 2022, the Western Force where he really came to prominence. Kuenzle, who has Swiss heritage, admits he had never set foot in Scotland before signing for Warriors but is confident this is the right move at the right time.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously I did a big stint in Australia but I\u2019m 28 now, so I\u2019m at that age where I could stay or experience something new,\u201d he explained. \u201cI think I was at that stage where I wanted to do that [try a new experience]. And obviously Glasgow came calling and it\u2019s hard to not look at the way they\u2019ve been going the last four years and just missing out [on silverware] this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe European stuff as well, that was a big eye-opener for me. And to be a part of a group where there are about 19 boys in the Scotland squad. That tells you it\u2019s world-class and you want to be a part of that. It\u2019s been five weeks since I\u2019ve come here and it\u2019s been actually pretty smooth sailing. The weather\u2019s been unreal the last couple of weeks so that\u2019s been great. Obviously the boys have been welcoming, Franco and the coaching staff have been great. So, yeah, no dramas so far, it\u2019s been unreal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Bayley<\/p>\n

Bayley Kuenzle is looking forward to getting going with Glasgow. Image: \u00a9Craig Watson www.craigwatson.co.uk<\/p>\n

Kuenzle played a lot at 10 in his early years but has been used predominantly on the wings or at centre since joining the Force. His preferred position is 12 but, naturally, will be happy to feature wherever Smith requires him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll play wherever I\u2019m needed,\u201d he confirms. \u201cBut I do prefer playing a bit of 12. I started my career, my Super Rugby career, at 10. And I\u2019ve got that body that can go anywhere. I like attacking rugby. I like taking the line on, getting the ball in hand. I really pride myself on my skills, my catch-pass and my kicking game. I also try and bring some physicality wherever I can.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut to be fair, if I\u2019m out in the field, I\u2019m grateful. I\u2019m just here for an opportunity. And if I play good rugby, it\u2019ll take care of itself. But wherever Franco wants me, I\u2019ll put my hand up for him. I\u2019ve been speaking to Nigel [Carolan]<\/strong>, the backs coach. He obviously knows that I\u2019m quite versatile and can play in certain positions. But I\u2019ve been training a bit in the midfield the last couple of weeks, which has been nice. Also, I want to push those boys who are in front of me as well. I back myself to do a job and really push those boys and compete.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another string to Kuenzle\u2019s bow is his goal kicking and he enjoyed a meet-up this week with Scotland icon Chris Paterson<\/strong> who assists both Glasgow and Edinburgh on that front.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t really goal kicked between this year and last year. But I love my goal kicking. I think Chris helps out with that. We met him [on Tuesday] and he\u2019s one of the Scottish legends. So I\u2019d love to keep working with him and to improve that. This is all\u00a0a new experience, and I\u2019m obviously not coming in with a bad frame of mind. I\u2019m just going to embrace it and enjoy what Scotland\u2019s got to give.\u201d<\/p>\n

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