After cleaning up the Rugby Australia Awards, a host of Wallaroos stars have welcomed their rare return to the under-age program for a historic U21 Test against New Zealand.
Wallaroos Player of the Year Faitala Moleka will skipper the U21 NextGen team in Christchurch against their trans-Tasman rivals in Christchurch, named at fullback.
Watch every second of the U21 NextGen trans-Tasman fixture live and on demand via Stan Sport.
Moleka is already a Wallaroos veteran with 36 caps, a sign of her rapid development at the highest level.
At 21, the Brumby has already passed Liz Patu for caps, who held the Wallaroos record just three years ago in 2023.
Now, Moleka is embracing the chance to play with and against her peers in a double-header against the Black Ferns and France.
“I don't think I've been around my age group for a long time,” she remarked.
“Seeing all these young, youthful girls, with so much energy and so much talent, I think coming into this space, I've come in with a bit more of a leadership and trying to lead them in terms of like what the Wallaroo space looks like and what the standards are
“It’'s our first ever for both New Zealand and Australia to have an under 21 team and I think that it's a step in the right direction in terms of bringing our grassroots up.”
Moleka is far from alone in terms of Wallaroo experience, joined by Junior Women’s Player of the Year Waiaria Ellis and World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee Amelia Whitaker.
Ellis partners Wallaroos and Sevens star Piper Simons in the halves, while 2026 debutant Ava Wereta headlines the midfield.
For a player like Ellis, who debuted as a 16-year-old for the NSW Waratahs, the rare chance to play with her peers was a blessing.
“I think it's so exciting because there's so much talent coming through these next generations as well and then also being able to play with girls my age and also getting more game time just to really help refine my craft,” Ellis told Rugbycomau at the start of the month.
“I have lots of friends in this team so it's just really exciting.”
Moleka skippers the side alongside back-rower Ruby Anderson, who featured as part of the U19 NextGen competition.
Anderson and Lily Bone form a strong back-row whilst Allana Sikimeti starts in the front-row.
