Wallaroos young guns Faitala Moleka, Waiaria Ellis and Amelia Whitaker are among eight capped players named in the matchday 23 to play New Zealand U21 at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday (2:30pm AEDT).
The trio join forwards Lily Bone, Allana Sikimeti and Ruby Anderson, along with halfback Piper Simons and centre Ava Wereta in the starting line-up for the inaugural NextGen fixture.
Moleka featured in every Wallaroos match in 2026 while Ellis finished the season as the starting flyhalf.
Bone, Simons, Wereta and Whitaker all made their international debuts throughout the international calendar.
Anderson and Moleka will co-captain the side while the remaining players feature from across Australia with seven representing NSW Waratahs, four from ACT Brumbies and two each at Queensland Reds and Western Force.
Promising forward Fa'alagilagi Faimasui Brown starts at tighthead prop while Lola Harvison and Indya McWilliam form the lock pairing.
Lusiana Vesikula, who spent a week with the Wallaroos in Canberra last week to gain valuable experience, and emerging winger Lily Gillett help form the backline.
Australia U21 NextGen Head Coach Iliseva Batibasaga said: “We're excited to be in Christchurch and get a couple of sessions under our belt before Saturday.
“I’m pleased with the mix of experience and new talent in our match day squad and having the Wallaroos finish their season with a win I’ll be looking to those girls to lead and empower their peers around the park.
“Similarly, I’m keen to watch our new talent make their mark in an international arena.”
Batibasaga will lead an all-female coaching and support staff which includes Wallaroos assistant coach Shannon Parry and retired forward Alapeta Ngauamo.
With the support of the Australian Rugby Foundation through the generosity of donors, the inaugural NextGen XVs program debuted at both under 16 and under 19 levels throughout September and October.
Through extended donor support, this historic upcoming fixture will now be made a reality.
The team trained in Christchurch on Thursday morning (local time) and will wrap up preparations with a final training run on Friday.
Watch the historic U21 NextGen fixture between Australia and New Zealand live and on-demand on Stan Sport.
Australia U21 NextGen side to play New Zealand U21 at One New Zealand Stadium
1. Fa'alagilagi Faimasui Brown (NSW Waratahs/Hunter Wildfires)
2. Millie Parker (ACT Brumbies/Avoca Beach Rugby)
3. Allana Sikimeti (Western Force/Norths Eagles)
4. Lola Harvison (NSW Waratahs/Lindfield Rugby)
5. Indya McWilliam (Queensland Reds/Coomera Crushers)
6. Ruby Anderson (c) (NSW Waratahs/Avoca Beach Rugby)
7. Lily Bone (ACT Brumbies/Orange City)
8. Sophia Wilson (NSW Waratahs/Randwick Rugby)
9. Piper Simons (NSW Waratahs/Gordon Rugby)
10. Waiaria Ellis (NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions)
11. Lily Gillett (NSW Waratahs/Warringah Rats)
12. Ava Wereta (Queensland Reds/Coomera Crushers)
13. Lusiana Vesikula (NSW Waratahs/Oatley Rugby)
14. Amelia Whitaker (NSW Waratahs/Randwick Rugby)
15. Faitala Moleka (c) (ACT Brumbies/Blacktown Scorpions)
Reserves
16. Siusiuosalafai Volkman (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
17. Keira MacAskill (Western Force/Wests Scarborough)
18. Angela Littler (NSW Waratahs/Mudgee Wombats)
19. Sofaia Talemaira (Western Force/Wanneroo Rugby Club)
20. Fa'agase Tupuola-Palale (Queensland Reds/Bond Pirates)
21. Maronay Smuts (ACT Brumbies/Uni-North Owls)
22. Georgie Hayes (ACT Brumbies/Wagga Crows)
23. Sonrae Lui (ACT Brumbies/Canberra Royals)
