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Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Will Skelton headline Wallabies’ Spring Tour squad

187 days ago

Joseph Sua'ali'i is pictured during an Australia Wallabies Training Session at the AIS on October 14, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has named former Sydney Roosters flyer Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in a 34-man squad for the team’s upcoming Spring Tour. On Tuesday, Suaalii was selected in the Wallabies for the first time ahead of matches against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Suaalii signed a lucrative multi-year deal with Rugby Australia in March last year, and while the utility back still had a couple of seasons left to play in rugby league, the Wallabies appear eager to utilise the talent now that he’s in the 15-player game.

The code-hopper is one of three debutants in the Wallabies’ group, while playmaker Tane Edmed and outside back Harry Potter are the other two. 2023 Rugby World Cup squad members Will Skelton and Samu Kerevi have also been named for the first time under coach Schmidt.

In other big news for the group, ACT Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard and Queensland Reds forward Seru Uru also return to the squad. This Wallabies group will assemble in Sydney over the weekend before flying out to the United Kingdom next Thursday.

“The squad has had a chance to regenerate over the last few weeks,” coach Joe Schmidt said in a statement. “At the same time, it was good to catch up with a wider group of players in the two-day training hubs we had in Canberra and Brisbane last week.

“We have a relatively consistent group but will integrate a few new players on tour.

“Trying to balance opportunities for players, some recent squad members will get much needed game time with Australia XV, which also enables us to broaden our cohort of players in what will be highly competitive fixtures.”

Wallabies squad for the Spring Tour

Forwards (19)
Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors)
Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)
Matt Faessler (#969, USQ Saints)
Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions)
Langi Gleeson (#960, Harbord Harlequins)
Isaac Kailea (#975, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (#918, Southern Districts)
Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick)
Will Skelton (#883, Wentworthville Magpies)
James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates)
Carlo Tizzano (#982, University of Western Australia)
Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby)
Seru Uru (#985, Wests Bulldogs)
Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers)
Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils)

Backs (15)
Ben Donaldson (#962, Clovelly Eagles)
Tane Edmed (uncapped, West Harbour Juniors)
Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors)
Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves)
Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)
Samu Kerevi (#892, Souths Magpies)
Noah Lolesio (#934, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club)
Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Dylan Pietsch (#978, Leeton Phantoms)
Harry Potter (uncapped, Moorabbin Rams)
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (uncapped, The Kings School)
Nic White (#875, Maitland Blacks)
Tom Wright (#939, Clovelly Eagles)

Wallabies and Australia XV coaches have also come together to select a 30-man squad for a two-match tour in the UK. The Australia XV will take on Bristol at Ashton Gate and England A at the Twickenham Stoop next month.

Rod Seib will coach a group that includes 14 Wallabies, as well as 20-year-old prop Massimo De Lutiis who re-signed with the Queensland Reds last week. De Lutiis also holds the club’s bench press record, having surpassed the previous best set by Taniela Tupou.

Junior Wallabies playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and ACT Brumbies hooker Lachlan Lonergan are among some of the other key inclusions for this squad.

“To have 14 Wallabies as part of the group illustrated the depth that’s currently being created in Australian rugby,” Australia XV coach Rod Seib said.

“This tour represents a great opportunity for this group of players and staff to test themselves against two high-quality Northern Hemisphere opponents and is a challenge we’re all looking forward to.”

Forwards (17)
Angus Blyth (Queensland Reds – Causarina Beach Rugby Club)
Joe Brial (Queensland Reds – Easts (Sydney))
John Bryant (Queensland Reds – Souths Magpies)
Josh Canham (Queensland Reds – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Massimo de Lutiis (Queensland Reds – Surfers Paradise Dolphins)
Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies – Bathurst Bulldogs)
Harry Hoopert (Western Force – Dalby Wheatmen)
Tom Horton (Western Force – Mosman Whales)
Tom Lambert (NSW Waratahs – Wests Juniors)
Lachlan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies – Tuggeranong Vikings)
Josh Nasser (Queensland Reds – Easts Rugby (Brisbane))
Zane Nonggorr (Queensland Reds – Gold Coast Eagles)
Luke Reimer (ACT Brumbies – Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
Rory Scott (ACT Brumbies – Canberra Royals)
Ryan Smith (Queensland Reds – Caboolture Snakes)
Darcy Swain (Western Force – Tuggeranong Vikings)
Rhys Van Nek (ACT Brumbies – Easts Rugby (Brisbane))

Backs (13)
Lachie Anderson (Queensland Reds – Dural Juniors)
Jock Campbell (Queensland Reds – Inverell Highlanders)
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (Western Force – Port Douglas Reef Raiders)
Josh Flook (Queensland Reds – Brothers Rugby)
Darby Lancaster (NSW Waratahs – Kempsey Cannonballs)
Ryan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies – Tuggeranong Vikings)
Tom Lynagh (Queensland Reds – University of Queensland)
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Queensland Reds – Gunnedah Red Devils)
Andy Muirhead (ACT Brumbies – Souths Magpies)
Ollie Sapsford (ACT Brumbies – Uni-Norths Owls)
Hamish Stewart (Western Force – Toowoomba Bears)
Corey Toole (ACT Brumbies – Wagga Waratahs)
Joey Walton (NSW Waratahs – Warnervale Wildcats)

Unavailable for selection
Kurtley Beale (Achilles)
Charlie Cale (Shoulder)
Filipo Daugunu (Leg)
David Feliuai (Family reasons)
Lalakai Foketi (Suspension)
Alex Hodgman (Family reasons)
Harry Johnson-Holmes (Achilles)
Bayley Kuenzle (Knee)
Rob Leota (Calf)
David Porecki (Family reasons)
Tim Ryan (Ankle)
Blake Schoupp (Shoulder)
Liam Wright (Shoulder)

Spring Tour
Wallabies v England, 2:10am AEDT, Sunday November 10, Twickenham, London
Wallabies v Wales, 3:10am AEDT, Monday November 18, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Wallabies v Scotland, 12:40am AEDT, Monday November 25, Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Wallabies v Ireland, 2:10am AEDT, Sunday December 1, Aviva Stadium, Dublin

2024 Australia XV Tour
Australia XV v Bristol Bears, 7:45pm GMT, Friday November 8, Ashton Gate, Bristol
Australia XV v England A, 2:00pm GMT, Sunday November 17, Twickenham Stoop, London

Comments

5 Comments

MakeOllieMathisAnAB 185 days ago

Public service announcement: just so we’re all on the same page, Tane Edmed’s christian name is pronounced Tar-nay.

Cheers.

Lulu 187 days ago

Would Saulii not have been better off in the Australia XV. Only played league and now in the squad. Wondering what that will do for team dynamics.

To see big Will back is great. Need a big tour for Kerevi.

Ardy 187 days ago

About the best we can put on the field(s). No Koro but hoping it is just injury.

Great to see Kerevi back.

OJohn 187 days ago

No it's not.

Slipper is a joke. So is Williams st lock. So is Tom Robertson. So is Gordon. So is Donaldson. So is Edmed. It's a second string team at best.

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Ardy 10 minutes ago

James O'Connor, the Lions and the great club v country conundrum

History is littered with instances where the money has been used and abused to get advantage, and your silly statement of ‘just pay them more’ when Aus/NZ do not have access to a wide viewer market defies reason.

If it is only a reprieve in the current French club system, which has been going on since the 70’’s, then it is worth it. To open the gates to all countries to get whatever they can afford could be disastrous for the RWC in 20 years.

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JW 29 minutes ago

Kini Naholo powers Hurricanes to upset win over Brumbies In Canberra

I was actually muling over the idea that if Big Jim isn’t selected for the All Blacks this year I’d love for him to become a cornerstone of the Fijian midfield and get a big contract over in Japan.

Fiji don’t necessarily need another midfielder but I reckon he could be their best anyway.

The problem is CR New Zealand has been a destination for Islanders going back centuries, and it’s teams have built great rapport with them. So it’s automatically like a second home, and a lot of them simply don’t want to leave, and attaining All Black status is the only way you can achieve a reasonable income here.

If WR was able to help in some way, and in helping the Drua and Moana it will help no end with those players, simply being able to receive a good wage for their first home team, or their Kiwi SR team, is what’s going to make the biggest difference to this problem/situation.

12 Go to comments

JW 40 minutes ago

Kini Naholo powers Hurricanes to upset win over Brumbies In Canberra

Or Promoting Fihaki!

12 Go to comments

JW 41 minutes ago

Kini Naholo powers Hurricanes to upset win over Brumbies In Canberra

Did Reece used to have this power? I know I enjoyed his DMac like runs when he first came about, but the guys character, and now I also don’t seem to enjoy his runs for some reason anymore. Has he even got bigger legs and less agility now? Clarke had an amazing season all considered last year, after he decided to work on speed by dropping a few kg’s.

Kini still seems to have the raw explosive power, which generates as quick feet and acceleration, but I’m not like his long term prospects with aging.

12 Go to comments

JW 48 minutes ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

I was a bit disappointed reading the article and what they’re actually doing. I thought this was going to involve some advanced bloody analysis with DNA ancestry or something lol.

I’m not sure you’ve understood the change though (or the article has correctly educated me), as there is no change to the Japan team, this is really about participation (incentivizing growth through to the JRLO, and the rest will take care of itself ala SA’s reformation). I think they’re really happy with the fan base as Japan also has a big culture for overseas stars.

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JW 55 minutes ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

That’s natural though no? Was the same with Lydia Ko.

Sure you’re not just misjudge the effects of a large population?

29 Go to comments

JW 59 minutes ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

Only if you’re a racist!

29 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

There is no confusion Fin, only a lack of understanding.

it isn’t like that at all. Japan aren’t saying you become japanese after 5 years of living there, they are saying that you only became japanese by having japanese “blood”.

Wrong on both counts. Read my post again. WR are saying you’re not Japanese until you’ve had 5 years there and JRFU are saying you can be after 30 tests. Don’t get too confused here, you raised two topics that I’m having to reply to, but theres absolutely no difference in either.

Not sure why you’re bringing up Fiji, a team no one has mentioned because they clearly bear no relation to the topic at hand.

The Drua are identical to Moana.

no it isn’t. A person can call themselves white, but you can’t have a whites only team.

Of course you can. You just can’t make it represent a whole country ala South Africa. I’m sure theres hundres of Scottish or Irish rep teams all over.

At least you got one thing right, a person can call themselves white if they want, or Maori, and be involved in any such like minded group. Just don’t be like the KKK and make it a racial group 😋

While I’m sure you realise you’re wrong about about the picture you tried to paint (and probably new before posting) in your OP, I don’t have faith that you were able to corelate the two examples. Happy to keep replying until you do, again.

29 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

They always would have, just not over a team that’s able to give the sport a spotlight in their country.

They think they’re in a position to do both now?

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JW 1 hour ago

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If you’re on the loosing side, he’d be great. If you’re on the winning side though I’d prefer not to risk my head!

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JW 1 hour ago

'We've been searching': Clark Laidlaw's honest reflection after win in Canberra

As valiant as GP says the Highlanders were that wasn’t really a test for the Crusaders as one might have though last week. When do they get to find out how much they’ve improved? Could it only be in another game against the Chiefs?

Crusaders arguably only managed to just scrape out ahead of these sides you’re questioning so I’d being having them in the same boat. But maybe now with Reihana back the Saders will have more than the one trick ponies do? Honestly I would also have the Chiefs in that ballpark, with their Dmac/Steveonson combo not producing yet or having the potential flair a Reihana/Jordan combo might have. Both tougher than the Blues/Brumbies/Reds, and i’d still say Canes for sure though.

4 Go to comments

GS 1 hour ago

James O'Connor, the Lions and the great club v country conundrum

Whilst I dislike what is occurring with the French clubs, they are not the only parties involved in this activity. You can also look to Ireland and its “Project Player” Scheme, or how Scotland picks players with zero background who have never lived in Scotland.

But market forces will dictate where players will end up.

If RA wants to retain these players, then it should offer them remuneration in line with or better than what the French clubs can. The NZRFU should have offered Aki, Lowe, or Fergus Burke a higher salary than what was offered by the likes of Irish Rugby, Sacarens, etc., if it wanted to retain them.

These kids going to France and the aforementioned Kiwi players are attempting to build a career and financial security in a career that can end with one injury. Think about that—one bad injury, and your career is over, so just like anyone, they have to make the smart, informed decision that is right for them and their families.

If the likes of Oz and NZ can’t or are not prepared to match the $$$, so be it - this is the reality of professional rugby, and whilst it turns the international game into a glorified club comp, I’m not sure if there is any solution.

And let’s remember it’s not all negative. This movement of players from Nth to South gives kids like Blair Murray or Taine Plumtree the ability to earn good $$ and experience international rugby, when let’s face it, they would at best be on the fringes of a Super Rugby squad - so it’s not all bad!

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GabrielArthur 1 hour ago

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JW 1 hour ago

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It was good (and somewhat relieving) to finally see a full crowd for Moana after weve had decades of fervent support from the Samoan and Tongan communities for the rugby teams, helped by some names of course but you’d like the think the way both teams are playing too.

1 Go to comments

JH 1 hour ago

Kini Naholo powers Hurricanes to upset win over Brumbies In Canberra

..and most telling. How many Kiwis and Aussies are propping up the Samoan and Tongan sides these days. Even Fiji has some, although compared to those two, they’re relatively light on the poaching.

12 Go to comments

JH 1 hour ago

Kini Naholo powers Hurricanes to upset win over Brumbies In Canberra

Given how conservative they were last year, to the surprise of many, I’d expect Razor and co to stick with Reece and Clarke. Unfortunately.

12 Go to comments

JH 1 hour ago

Kini Naholo powers Hurricanes to upset win over Brumbies In Canberra

Think you’ll find MP is set up to poach Kiwi and Aussie born players. That’s why most of their roster is NZers and based in NZ.

Also AB’s one of the most-home grown sides in international rugby, with most of their ‘foreign’ players having come here as kids with their parents. You can’t say the same for the Tongan and Samoan squads these days, which much like MP, are filled with Kiwis and Aussies. So, who is poaching from who. Exactly. You’re welcome.

12 Go to comments

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