Overseas trio called up as Wallabies name squad for Spring Tour

Fri, Oct 8, 2021, 1:43 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Wallabies win 4 in a row in 2021 as they down the Pumas at CBUS stadium

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has called up Will Skelton, Tolu Latu and Rory Arnold for the upcoming Spring Tour.

It marks a remarkable return for Skelton, who has established himself as one of the premier locks in the world, last pulling on the Wallabies jersey in 2016.

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He is joined by Arnold and Latu, who will potentially make their first appearance since the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Japanese-based trio Quade Cooper, Sean McMahon and Samu Kerevi have also been named in the 37-man squad, with Kerevi still racing the clock to overcome an ankle injury.

Waratahs centre Izaia Perese and Brumbies hooker Connal McInerney have are amongst four uncapped players named for the Tour, which will start against Japan on October 23.

Perese was originally named in the squad to face France in July but was forced to withdraw after picking up a shoulder injury in the final match of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.

"Firstly we're extremely grateful to be able to represent Australia on the world stage in the current environment and that's something that's not lost on this group," coach Dave Rennie said in a statement.

"We've been building as a squad over the past 18 months or so and to get a chance to head to the Northern Hemisphere and test ourselves against four really strong International sides is a great opportunity to learn more about ourselves."

A number of younger Wallabies will remain in Australia including Harry Wilson, Noah Lolesio and Fraser McReight with an eye on the future, allowing them to continue their development and complete full preseasons with their Super Rugby clubs. 

"To have a few experienced players from overseas join us will no doubt help our development as we continue to grow and improve as a team, while those back here in Australia will get a decent offseason to make the necessary shifts in their games to excel at Test level," he added.

Stan Sport will air the Wallabies Test against Japan ad-free, live and on demand on Saturday 23 October.

Wallabies squad for 2021 Spring Tour (Test caps, Club side and age)

Allan Alaalatoa (50, Brumbies, 27)

Rory Arnold (26, Stade Toulousain, 31)

Angus Bell (12, NSW Waratahs, 21)

Quade Cooper (74, Kintetsu Liners, 33)

Filipo Daugunu (6, Queensland Reds, 26)

Pone Fa’amausili* (uncapped, Melbourne Rebels, 24)

Folau Fainga’a (21, Brumbies, 26)

Lalakai Foketi* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 26)

Jake Gordon (10, NSW Waratahs, 28)

Reece Hodge (53, Melbourne Rebels, 27)

Michael Hooper (c) (115, NSW Waratahs, 29)

Len Ikitau (9, Brumbies, 23)

Feleti Kaitu’u (3, Western Force, 26)

Andrew Kellaway (9, Melbourne Rebels, 25)

Samu Kerevi (38, Suntory Sungoliath, 28)

Marika Koroibete (42, Panasonic Wildknights, 29)

Tolu Latu (19, Stade Francais, 28)

Rob Leota (2, Melbourne Rebels, 24)

Tate McDermott (11, Queensland Reds, 23)

Connal McInerney* (uncapped, Brumbies, 26)

Sean McMahon (27, Suntory Sungoliath, 27)

James O’Connor (57, Queensland Reds, 31)

Hunter Paisami (11, Queensland Reds, 23)

Izaia Perese* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 24)

Jordan Petaia (14, Queensland Reds, 21)

Matt Philip (19, Melbourne Rebels, 27)

Tom Robertson (26, Western Force, 26)

Izack Rodda (30, Western Force, 24)

Pete Samu (15, Brumbies, 29)

Will Skelton (18, Stade Rochelais, 29)

James Slipper (110, Brumbies, 32)

Darcy Swain (9, Brumbies, 24)

Lachlan Swinton (6, NSW Waratahs, 24)

Taniela Tupou (35, Queensland Reds, 25)

Rob Valetini (14, Brumbies, 23)

Nic White (43, Brumbies, 31)

Tom Wright (5, Brumbies, 24)

*denotes uncapped

Wallabies’ fixtures in the 2021 Spring Tour Japan v Wallabies at Oita Stadium, Oita on Saturday 23 October at 1.45pm JST

Scotland v Wallabies at Murrayfield, Edinburgh on Sunday 7 November at 2.15pm GMT

England v Wallabies at Twickenham, London on Saturday 13 November at 5.30pm GMT

Wales v Wallabies at Principality Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday 20 November at 5.30pm GMT

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