The road to the 2025 Women's World Cup is underway, with the Wallaroos now in camp ahead of their July Tests - serving as their final prep for the event.
Tests against the Blacks Ferns and Wales loom, and with the World Cup set to be bigger than ever, the competition for spots in the national side has never been stronger.
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Rugby.com.au presents 'Road to England': A position-by-position breakdown of the key contenders and bolters ahead of the squad selection later in the year.
Today we move into the centres, with two to four spots available given the make-ups of previous World Cup squads.
The centres loom as an interesting place squad-wise for Jo Yapp: not only because many players have had a stranglehold on the starting positions, but also because several exciting new prospects are starting to emerge.
Georgina Friedrichs is one firmly in the former camp, having become one of the most established and reliable stars in gold.
With a World Cup under her belt, the 32-capped Wallaroo has featured in nearly every match since her 2022 debut, and will likely be one of the two starters when the women in gold take the field later this year in Manchester.
Described as the ‘heart and soul’ of the Western Force Women's side, Rebecca Clough Medal winner Trilleen Pomare has excelled in the west as their captain, hot on the heels of Ash Marsters as the most-capped Wallaroo - currently with 37 appearances.
Pomare will likely feature on experience alone, making her debut at the 2017 World Cup, and backing it up in New Zealand.
However, Jo Yapp has effectively managed Pomare as a handy utility off the bench - making her one of the most versatile options in the Wallaroos' back stocks.
Georgina Friedrichs' running mate since her 2022 debut in the Pacific Four Series, Cecilia Smith will likely have a firm grasp on one of the other starting centre jerseys.
After captaining the Reds side, Smith moved across to the Western Force in 2025 - and picked up right where she left off, helping get the Force to a second finals finish, before featuring in all Tests bar Canada for far this season.
The current frontrunner for potential bolters in the centres - competition for spots has heated up with the arrival of Sevens star Charlotte Caslick.
Caslick has had a promising start to her XVs career so far, and while most of her games have seen her play in the back three, she moved into the centres against Canada - and looked promising despite the disappointing loss.
Whether she stays in the centres remains to be seen, but Caslick could also emerge as a handy utility option for Jo Yapp to capitalise on.
The younger sister of current Wallaroo flyhalf Faitala Moleka, Manu'a has had a strong start to her 2025 season, making her Super Rugby debut for the Brumbies and being included in the extended squad for the Wallaroos during the Pacific Four Series.
While still uncapped, Manu'a has shown a lot of promise as a future Wallaroo, having been selected as co-captain of the Australian School Girls team in 2024 and being part of the Manly U17s side that won the 2024 NSW State 7s Championship.
Making the 2024 extended squad for the Wallaroos Pacific Four Series, explosive centre Shalom Sauaso made one of the biggest splashes in the women's game in 2025 - excelling for the Reds in a barnstorming Super Rugby Women's season.
The young centre is primed to make her NRLW debut later in the year for the Brisbane Broncos, ruling her out of playing for the Wallaroos at this World Cup.
One of several Sevens stars who committed to playing Super Rugby Women's, Demi Hayes has since returned to the Sevens circuit, being ruled out of the Los Angeles event due to injury.
Hayes, along with the other Sevens stars currently not in the Wallaroo camp, have made themselves unavailable to rest up after a long season in the World Series.
In addition to Demi Hayes, Teagan Levi has also made herself unavailable to rest up after the 2024-25 SVNS World Series.
While it is possible that may change between now and the start of the World Cup in August, Levi would have her work cut out to be a late bolter into the World Cup squad.
Returning to the Wallaroos set up for the first time since 2022 after a successful stint in Sevens, Bienne Terita had a strong season in Super Rugby Women's for the Brumbies - and impressed in the Wallaroos' opening Test in Fiji before suffering a hamstring injury.
Terita missed the Pacific Four Series as a result, but is expected to be match fit in time for the World Cup.
Getting game time against New Zealand and/or Wales in July will be critical for her prospects - but if she picks up where she left off from Fiji, she will be firmly in the mix for selection.
