The Wallabies are delighted to confirm Tom Donnelly will join the coaching staff ahead of the 2025 Flight Centre Rugby Championship.
Donnelly will replace current assistant coach Geoff Parling who will return to the UK following the end of the Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Tour.
A former international lock for New Zealand, Donnelly played 15 Tests between 2009 and 2010, nearly 100 games of Super Rugby and three seasons in the French top 14 before transitioning into coaching.
The 43-year-old spent the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season with the Western Force, having moved West after spending the previous two years as an assistant with the Highlanders in Dunedin.
Before that, he was the head coach of NPC side Otago and had a stint leading New Zealand’s Under-20s side when they won the 2022 Oceania Championship.
Incoming Wallabies assistant coach Tom Donnelly said: “I’m honoured to have an opportunity to help contribute to the Wallabies and to work alongside Joe and the wider coaching staff and management.”
“Watching from afar, the journey the team is on and the improvement they are making is exciting. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and doing my part to continue the ongoing growth of the team.”
Rugby Australia’s Director of High Performance, Peter Horne said: “Tom has spent the best part of the last 25 years involved in professional Rugby and his expertise around the lineout and set piece will be highly valuable for the Wallabies.”
“He’s got a great understanding of the current Super Rugby Pacific landscape as well as experience playing at the highest level which makes him a great fit for the role.”
Wallabies 21 defeated Fiji 18 on Sunday July 6 at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Wallabies 19 defeated by the British & Irish Lions 27 on Saturday July 19 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Wallabies 26 defeated by the British & Irish Lions 29 on Saturday July 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday August 2 at Accor Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies v South Africa at 1:10am AEST on Sunday August 17 at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Wallabies v South Africa at 1:10am AEST on Sunday August 24 at DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Wallabies v Argentina at 2:30pm AEST on Saturday September 6 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Wallabies v Argentina at 2:00pm AEST on Saturday September 13 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies v New Zealand at 3:05pm AEST on Saturday September 27, Eden Park, Auckland
Wallabies v New Zealand at 5:45pm AWST on Saturday October 4 at Optus Stadium, Perth
Wallabies v Japan at TBC on Saturday October 25 at National Stadium, Tokyo
Wallabies v England, at 2:10am AEDT on Sunday November 2 at Allianz Stadium, London
Wallabies v Italy at 4:40am AEDT on Sunday November 9 at TBC
Wallabies v Ireland at 7:10am AEDT on Sunday November 16 at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Wallabies v France at 7:10am on Sunday November 23 at TBC
