A prop, Reilly was an Australian Schoolboys representative player in 1988, while attending Newington College.[1]
Reilly started in professional rugby with the Queensland Reds, primarily as a reserves player, but did make a first team appearance against Otago. He signed a casual mid-season contract for the New South Wales Waratahs during their 2000 Super 12 campaign in an attempt improve an underperforming scrum, replacing Rod Moore as tight-head for the final six rounds.[2] At club level, Reilly played with Sydney University, where he had a sports scholarship to study for a master's degree in English and history.[3] He continued his studies at the University of Cambridge and featured in their 2002 Varsity match win over Oxford University.[4][5]