Written by Nathan Williamson, courtesy of rugby.com.au Source article
The Wallaroos have locked in a 30-player squad ahead of their upcoming tour of Europe and WXV 2.
Jo Yapp has made four changes to the July Test squad, most notably the absence of former skipper and number eight Piper Duck due to an ankle injury.
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Duck picked up the injury during Sydney Uni’s Jack Scott Cup win over Manly and underwent surgery last week, ruling her out for the rest of the year.
Prop Allana Sikimeti joins Duck on the sidelines, with Waratahs hooker Brittany Merlo initially selected before injury dashed her hopes of a Wallaroos debut.
Uncapped trio Lucy Dinnen, Ashley Fernandez and Tiarah Minns come into the squad, with prop Sally Fuesaina also coming in after debuting in the Pacific Four.
Fernandez and Minns have been involved in wider squads throughout the year whilst Dinnen (née Lockhart) returns to the national set-up for the first time since before the 2022 World Cup, having won Super W Player of the Year in 2021.
Maya Stewart has also been named to return after returning to full training after a hamstring injury sidelined her against New Zealand and Fiji.
Centre Trilleen Pomare and Ashley Marsters will potentially break the record for most Wallaroos caps on the tour, overtaking Liz Patu if they play every single game.
“We are looking forward to playing against different teams in the second half of our season and with next year’s Rugby World Cup our long-term focus,” coach Jo Yapp said in a statement.
“The ability to travel overseas for most of our squad is a new experience and the upcoming matches against Ireland and Wales provides us with valuable match time before WXV in South Africa.
“We have had to make a few forced changes to the travelling squad due to injury which is disappointing, but we are also focused on those next in line and bringing out the best in them.”
The squad will assemble in Sydney before heading to Belfast on September 6 for their Test against Ireland on September 14.
They will then play Wales twice, first in a warm-up fixture followed by opening their WXV 2 campaign in Cape Town.
2024 WALLAROOS SQUAD – WXV AND IRELAND AND WALES
Lori Cramer (#172 – University of Queensland) – 23 caps
Biola Dawa (#211 – Wagga Reddies) – 2 caps
Lucy Dinnen* (Wanneroo) – uncapped
Ashley Fernandez* (Uni-North Owls) – uncapped
Georgina Friedrichs (#178 – Wests Bulldogs) – 24 caps
Sally Fuesaina (Campbelltown Harlequins) – 3 caps
Caitlyn Halse (#210 – Southern Districts) – 2 caps
Brianna Hoy (#203 – Coffs Harbour Snappers) – 8 caps
Eva Karpani (#171 – Onkaparinga) – 26 caps
Lydia Kavoa (#214 – Eastern Suburbs) – 1 cap
Atasi Lafai (#161 – Campbelltown Harlequins) – 14 caps
Kaitlan Leaney (#179 – CSU Marlins) – 20 caps
Michaela Leonard (c) (#168 – Tuggeranong Vikings) – 27 caps
Ashley Marsters (#117 – Booroondarra) – 29 caps
Arabella McKenzie (#175 – Lightning Ridge Tigers) – 26 caps
Desiree Miller (#204 – Eastern Suburbs) – 7 caps
Tiarah Minns* (Manly Marlins) – uncapped
Faitala Moleka (#199 – Blacktown Scorpions) – 11 caps
Tiarna Molloy (#191 – Inverell Highlands) – 3 caps
Layne Morgan (#188 – Merewether Carlton) – 26 caps
Tania Naden (#197 – Uni-North Owls) – 15 caps
Leilani Nathan (#202 – Hamilton Hawks) – 7 caps
Alapeta Ngauamo* (Wests Bulldogs) – uncapped
Bridie O’Gorman (#180 – Sydney University) – 22 caps
Siokapesi Palu (#194 – Rockdale Rangers) – 11 caps
Trilleen Pomare (#155 – Wanneroo) – 29 caps
Cecilia Smith (#190 – Leeton Dianas) – 15 caps
Maya Stewart (#196 – Nelson Bay Gropers) – 11 caps
Tabua Tuinakauvadra (#200 – Tuggeranong Vikings) – 6 caps
Natalie Wright (#213 – Wests Bulldogs) – 2 caps
*denotes potential debutant
Capped players unavailable for selection due to injury
Emily Chancellor
Bree-Anna Cheatham
Piper Duck
Emily Robinson
Allana Sikimeti
Adiana Talakai
