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Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones has named a 33-man squad for the team’s first training camp of the year, with six uncapped players in the group. Jones likened the camp to Formula One pre-season testing, with new standards and expectations for a new challenge.
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“This is not the squad for Rugby World Cup. It’s the first squad for the first camp,” said Jones. “If you are in it, the challenge is to stay in it. If you are not in it, how do you get in it? Players select themselves.”
The squad includes youngsters Josh Flook, Carter Gordon, and Max Jorgensen, who have all been named in their first Wallabies squad, while Blake Schoupp and Brad Wilkin find themselves in the national set up for the first time. Melbourne hooker Jordan Uelese also returns, having last been in the group in 2021.
“We have the talent in Australia but not the team,” said Jones. “We will build a winner’s mindset in the Wallabies players, and we will win games. That will come from confidence and belief that comes through effort and sacrifice.”
The most-capped player in the squad is James Slipper, who has 127 Tests to his name, while the youngest member is 18-year-old Jorgensen. The average age of the squad is 26, with an average of 22 Test caps per player.
Jones challenged the players to make it impossible for him to leave them out, and to work hard for each other on the field. “Going to win a Bledisloe Cup and a Rugby World Cup with the Wallabies is a rare privilege in a player’s career. Thousands try, few succeed.”
Jones has set his sights high, with the Wallabies looking to build on their recent success against Argentina and the All Blacks. The team will face France in July and August, with the first Test on July 7 in Sydney.
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The Wallabies camp squad is composed of Allan Alaalatoa, Ben Donaldson, Pone Fa’amausili, Josh Flook, Lalakai Foketi, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Carter Gordon, Ned Hanigan, Reece Hodge, Michael Hooper, Jed Holloway, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Lachlan Lonergan, Ryan Lonergan, Fraser McReight, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Cadeyrn Neville, Jordan Petaia, David Porecki, Tom Robertson, Pete Samu, Blake Schoupp, James Slipper, Darcy Swain, Jordan Uelese, Rob Valetini, Suliasi Vunivalu, Nic White, Brad Wilkin, and Tom Wright.
