The Wallabies have made some big calls for their final five Test matches of the 2025 season, with several key changes to the 34-man squad set to tour Japan and Europe.
Uncapped Queensland pair Aidan Ross and Kalani Thomas join the freshly re-signed Carter Gordon while Dylan Pietsch and Andrew Kellaway also make their returns from injury.
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The tour sees the Wallabies head to Japan to face Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms, before Tests against England, Italy, Ireland, and France that will shape Australia's World Ranking and Rugby World Cup draw hopes.
Winger Pietsch returns to the squad after recovering from a fractured jaw sustained in South Africa, while Kellaway is also back from a calf strain injury that ruled him out of the Bledisloe Cup series.
The squad will overlap with the Australia A team, with Matt Faessler, Josh Canham, Pete Samu, and Hamish Stewart set to stay in Japan and link up with the Wallabies following their clash with the Japan XV after their clash in Osaka on October 18th.
Schmidt has opted for consistency throughout the rest of the squad, with the team set to link up in Sydney ahead of the Rugby Australia Awards Night on Friday, October 17th.
Will Skelton, Len Ikitau, James O’Connor, and Tom Hooper have all been omitted from the initial squad due to overseas club commitments, but are expected to be available for the Italian, Irish and French Tests under World Rugby Regulation 9.
However, the big surprises come in the halves, with Tom Lynagh and Ben Donaldson joining O’Connor as major omissions from the main squad, the latter included in the Australia A side and the former still under a cloud of injury concerns.
Noah Lolesio was also considered for selection but was unavailable due to injury. Instead, Gordon will come straight into the squad fresh from signing for the Queensland Reds after two years in the NRL, joining Tane Edmed as the fly-half options for Schmidt.
Combined with Thomas, Jake Gordon and Ryan Lonergan will complete the halfback combinations, setting the stage for a new look pairing in the Wallaby backline.
“The squad and staff have had a brief chance to catch their breath after what has been a dense and attritional Test season so far,” Joe Schmidt added in an official statement.
“The challenge certainly doesn’t get any easier with five consecutive Tests on the road against high-quality international opposition, but, in saying that, I think the squad will relish the challenge and players will work hard to be as competitive as possible.
“Both Aidan Ross and Kalani Thomas have had a bit of time with us, and Carter Gordon will get the opportunity to integrate back into the Wallabies environment. The three players are fully fit and eager to be involved.
“We’ve taken a long-term view with Tom Lynagh, who is still just 22 years old. He has had a few injury frustrations since the third test versus the Lions in early August and will follow an individualised program, guided by both Wallabies and Queensland staff, which will allow him to recover to full fitness.
“There are a few players who have featured during recent Test matches, that are currently involved in competitions in Europe. Given the intensity of our Tour schedule, we may look to bolster our playing stocks by including some of these players during the World Rugby Regulation 9 window.”
Forwards:
Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors, ACT Brumbies, 85)
Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 44)
Josh Canham (#987, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 1)*
Nick Champion De Crespigny (#991, Canberra Grammar School, Western Force, 2)
Matt Faessler (#969, USQ Saints, Queensland Reds, 15)*
Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions, ACT Brumbies, 34)
Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies, Queensland Reds, 35)
Josh Nasser (#979, Easts Rugby (Brisbane), Queensland Reds, 8)
Zane Nonggorr (#966, Gold Coast Eagles, Queensland Reds, 16)
Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 16)
Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos, Western Force, 36)
Aidan Ross (uncapped, Bond University, Queensland Reds, 0)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick, Queensland Reds, 43)
Pete Samu (#920, Moorabbin Rams, NSW Waratahs, 33)
Carlo Tizzano (#982, University of Western Australia, Western Force, 11)
Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby (Brisbane), NSW Waratahs, 65)
Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 57)
Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers, Western Force, 20)
Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils, Queensland Reds, 31)
Backs:
Filipo Daugunu (#931, Wests Bulldogs, Queensland Reds, 15)
Tane Edmed (#990, West Harbour Juniors, NSW Waratahs, 4)
Josh Flook (#972, Brothers Rugby, Queensland Reds, 5)
Carter Gordon (#967, Sunshine Coast Grammar School, Queensland Reds, 8)
Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors, NSW Waratahs, 32)
Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves, NSW Waratahs, 17)
Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 45)
Ryan Lonergan (#993, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 2)
Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 32)
Dylan Pietsch (#979, Leeton Phantoms, Western Force, 7)
Harry Potter (#989, Moorabbin Rams, Western Force, 7)
Hamish Stewart (#986, Toowoomba Bears, Western Force, 2)*
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (#988, The Kings School, NSW Waratahs, 14)
Kalani Thomas (uncapped, Springfield Hawks, Queensland Reds, 0)
Corey Toole (#992, Wagga Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, 3)
*denotes also part of the Australia A squad
Charlie Cale
Langi Gleeson
Tate McDermott
Noah Lolesio
Tom Lynagh
Tom Wright
Wallabies v Japan at 4:50pm AEDT 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 Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
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 Stade de France, Paris
