The Classic Wallabies have named a team with more than 1100 combined Super Rugby and Test caps as they gear up for the Hong Kong Tens.
Former Wallabies stars Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri headline a squad bolstered by the inclusion of Rebels backs David Horwitz and Henry Hutchison, who are currently surplus to requirements in Melbourne.
That quartet are joined by former Wallabies Stephen Hoiles, Matt Hodgson, Adam Freier, Morgan Turinui and Peter Kimlin, with Justin Harrison to coach the side.
Harrison will be flanked by careers and pathway manager James Holbeck, as well as team manager Bill Young - the brains trust adding 300 combined Super Rugby and Test caps between them.
Classics manager Hoiles said returning to the famous Hong Kong tournament was a no brainer.
"One of the best things about our trip last year was that those three guys who played for our side have since gone on to become regulars on the World Rugby Sevens series, with Tom (Connor) and Ben (O'Donnell) recently named in the Australian team for the Commonwealth Games," Hoiles said.
"The standard in 2017 was very high, and while we knew it was going to be challenging playing in such a notorious tournament it probably still caught a couple of guys who had been away from the game for a little while by surprise.
"That’s the balancing act for us; getting enough former Wallabies and enough up-and-comers to have the right mix, and we think we’ve managed to do just that.
"Henry Hutchison was the World Rugby Sevens Rookie of the Year just two years ago before moving over to Super Rugby, while Matt Hodgson, David Horwitz and David McDuling were all Super Rugby regulars in 2017.
"From an off-field perspective, we see just as much benefit in getting this group of men together to go away on tour.
"Travelling and playing rugby with your mates is one of the things players transitioning into the next phase of their working lives miss most about playing rugby professionally, so there is a huge value in facilitating that side of things.
"All of the players returning from last year are in markedly better shape and are raring to go, and we’re looking to forward to getting over to Hong Kong and ripping in."
The Hong Kong Tens kick off on April 4. For a full list of fixtures, click here.
TEAM
Classic Wallabies team for the Hong Kong Tens
Luke Burgess – 34 years old, 84 Super Rugby Caps, 37 Wallaby Caps
Fred Dorrough – 22 years old, Uncapped
Adam Freier – 38 years old, 102 Super Rugby Caps, 25 Wallaby Caps
Alex Gibbon – 25 years old, 2 Super Rugby Caps, Australian Rugby Sevens representative
Sam Harris – 38 years old, 26 Super Rugby Caps
Matt Hodgson – 36 years old, 140 Super Rugby Caps, 11 Wallaby Caps, Australian Rugby Sevens representative
Stephen Hoiles – 36 years old, 116 Super Rugby Caps, 16 Wallaby Caps, Australian Rugby Sevens representative
David Horwitz – 23 years old, 27 Super Rugby Caps
Henry Hutchison – 21 years old, Uncapped, Australian Rugby Sevens representative
Peter Kimlin – 32 years old, 77 Super Rugby Caps, 2 Wallaby Caps
Arthur Little – 36 years old, Uncapped, Australian Rugby Sevens representative
David McDuling – 28 years old, 28 Super Rugby Caps
Patrick Phibbs – 36 years old, 73 Super Rugby Caps, Australian Rugby Sevens representative
Wendell Sailor – 43 years old, 55 Super Rugby Caps, 37 Wallaby Caps, Australian Rugby Sevens representative
Tyrone Smith – 34 years old, 47 Super Rugby Caps
Lote Tuqiri – 38 years old, 89 Super Rugby Caps, 67 Wallaby Caps, Australian Rugby Sevens representative
Morgan Turinui – 36 years old, 70 Super Rugby Caps, 20 Wallaby Caps, Australian Rugby Sevens representative
