Alex Toolis


Alex Toolis is an Australian rugby union player who plays for Kurita Water Gush in Japan. His twin brother, Ben, plays international rugby for Scotland.

Early life

Toolis was born in Brisbane, Australia.

Rugby career

Toolis arrived in Edinburgh, August 2013 after competing in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition playing for GPS Old Boys, where he helped GPS reach consecutive Premier Grade finals. He was also in the ARU's National Academy where he played in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup with his twin brother, Ben. He was also selected to play for the Queensland 'A' side in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup.
In November 2013, both twins were signed by London Irish on a short-term loan from Edinburgh Rugby. Toolis made his debut on 17 November 2013 against the Northampton Saints at Madjeski Stadium in London, where he started in the second row with his brother. This was the first time that London Irish had a pair of twins starting at the lock position.
He played one match on loan with Glasgow Warriors against Munster during their Pro12 title-winning 2014–15 season.
He played alongside Ben in the second row for the first time for Edinburgh in the away win over Benetton in September 2015. They were the first brothers to do so since Tim and Sep Visser in 2012, and the first set of twins to do so for the club in the professional era. They were the first twins to start a match together for the home side in Scotland in the professional era, in January 2016 win over SU Agen Lot-et-Garonne.
Toolis signed a two-year deal for the Rebels to return to Australia for the 2017 Super Rugby season; however, he received a serious neck injury which ruled him out for a year.