Wallaroos squad confirmed for European Tour, WXV 2

Sun, Sep 1, 2024, 10:00 PM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson

The Wallaroos have locked in a 30-player squad ahead of their upcoming tour of Europe and WXV 2.

Jo Yapp has made four changes to the July Test squad, most notably the absence of former skipper and number eight Piper Duck due to an ankle injury.

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Duck picked up the injury during Sydney Uni’s Jack Scott Cup win over Manly and underwent surgery last week, ruling her out for the rest of the year.

Prop Allana Sikimeti joins Duck on the sidelines, with Waratahs hooker Brittany Merlo initially selected before injury dashed her hopes of a Wallaroos debut.

Uncapped trio Lucy Dinnen, Ashley Fernandez and Tiarah Minns come into the squad, with prop Sally Fuesaina also coming in after debuting in the Pacific Four.

Fernandez and Minns have been involved in wider squads throughout the year whilst backrower Dinnen (née Lockhart) returns to the national set-up for the first time since before the 2022 World Cup, having won Super W Player of the Year in 2021.

Maya Stewart has also been named to return after returning to full training after a hamstring injury sidelined her against New Zealand and Fiji.

Centre Trilleen Pomare and Ashley Marsters will potentially break the record for most Wallaroos caps on the tour, overtaking Liz Patu if they play every single game.

“We are looking forward to playing against different teams in the second half of our season and with next year’s Rugby World Cup our long-term focus,” coach Jo Yapp said in a statement.

“The ability to travel overseas for most of our squad is a new experience and the upcoming matches against Ireland and Wales provides us with valuable match time before WXV in South Africa.

“We have had to make a few forced changes to the travelling squad due to injury which is disappointing, but we are also focused on those next in line and bringing out the best in them.”

The squad will assemble in Sydney before heading to Belfast on September 6 for their Test against Ireland on September 14.

They will then play Wales twice, first in a warm-up fixture followed by opening their WXV 2 campaign in Cape Town.

2024 WALLAROOS SQUAD – WXV AND IRELAND AND WALES

Lori Cramer (#172 - University of Queensland) – 23 caps

Biola Dawa (#211 - Wagga Reddies) – 2 caps

Lucy Dinnen* (Wanneroo) – uncapped

Ashley Fernandez* (Uni-North Owls) – uncapped

Georgina Friedrichs (#178 - Wests Bulldogs) – 24 caps

Sally Fuesaina (Campbelltown Harlequins) – 3 caps

Caitlyn Halse (#210 – Southern Districts) – 2 caps

Brianna Hoy (#203 - Coffs Harbour Snappers) – 8 caps

Eva Karpani (#171 - Onkaparinga) – 26 caps

Lydia Kavoa (#214 - Eastern Suburbs) – 1 cap

Atasi Lafai (#161 - Campbelltown Harlequins) – 14 caps

Kaitlan Leaney (#179 - CSU Marlins) – 20 caps

Michaela Leonard (c) (#168 - Tuggeranong Vikings) – 27 caps

Ashley Marsters (#117 - Booroondarra) – 29 caps

Arabella McKenzie (#175 - Lightning Ridge Tigers) – 26 caps

Desiree Miller (#204 - Eastern Suburbs) – 7 caps

Tiarah Minns* (Manly Marlins) – uncapped

Faitala Moleka (#199 - Blacktown Scorpions) – 11 caps

Tiarna Molloy (#191 - Inverell Highlands) – 3 caps

Layne Morgan (#188 - Merewether Carlton) – 26 caps

Tania Naden (#197 - Uni-North Owls) – 15 caps

Leilani Nathan (#202 - Hamilton Hawks) – 7 caps

Alapeta Ngauamo* (Wests Bulldogs) – uncapped

Bridie O'Gorman (#180 - Sydney University) – 22 caps

Siokapesi Palu (#194 - Rockdale Rangers) – 11 caps

Trilleen Pomare (#155 - Wanneroo) – 29 caps

Cecilia Smith (#190 - Leeton Dianas) – 15 caps

Maya Stewart (#196 - Nelson Bay Gropers) – 11 caps

Tabua Tuinakauvadra (#200 - Tuggeranong Vikings) – 6 caps

Natalie Wright (#213 - Wests Bulldogs) – 2 caps

*denotes potential debutant

Capped players unavailable for selection due to injury

Emily Chancellor

Bree-Anna Cheatham

Piper Duck

Emily Robinson

Madison Schuck

Allana Sikimeti

Adiana Talakai

Ivania Wong

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