Western Force back-rower Pia Tapsell is in line to make her Wallaroos debut against her former nation, New Zealand, in Saturday’s O’Reilly Cup clash in Auckland.
Tapsell is among three Force players among the reserves, along with the returning Allana Sikimeti and 2026 Rebecca Clough medallist Samantha Wood.
Force lock Michaela Leonard and midfielder Cecilia Smith will both start in the 15 against the Black Ferns.
Tapsell played six caps for the Black Ferns between 2019 and 2020 but is now eligible for the Wallaroos having been born in Melbourne and played for the Force for the past three seasons.
It'd be the first time a player has represented both Trans-Tasman teams, although the Wallabies notably had props Alex Hodgman and Aidan Ross play for the green and gold after switching from the All Blacks.
Australia Sevens star Maddison Levi’s inclusion in the matchday 23 comes after a much-anticipated selection in the Wallaroos extended squad last week.
Levi, 24, is Australia’s leading try-scorer in Rugby Sevens and could follow the path of several of her teammates in becoming an international representative across both formats of the game.
The starting backline includes Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, who will play her first Test match for the Wallaroos since 2019, while Tia Hinds has been named to start at scrumhalf with Samantha Wood shifting to the bench.
Waiaria Ellis partners Hinds in the halves for her first start in the Wallaroos No.10 jersey after a strong Super Rugby Women’s campaign with Faitala Moleka named at fullback.
The forward pack includes recalled prop Sikimeti, who returns to the side after two years, with Siokapesi Palu Sekona to lead as captain and Kaitlan Leaney given the vice captaincy role.
Director of Women’s High Performance Tim Walsh said: “We arrived in Auckland late last week to really soak up the atmosphere and acclimatise to the conditions.
“The coaching team led by Mike Ruthven, Duncan Chubb, Ben Mowen and Reg Tayler have been installing the technical content and physically preparing the team for an historic occasion.
“To be part of the 100th Wallaroos Test is special and the players are honoured to be part of the milestone and to play for all those who have worn the jersey before them.
“Two massive occasions for our debutants in Pia Tapsell and Maddison Levi. Pia’s last Test match was playing for the Black Ferns and Maddison a superstar in the Sevens format and coming off World Championship winning matches against the Black Ferns Sevens.”
The Wallaroos have played 99 Test matches since 1994 with Saturday’s 100th Test a significant milestone on the eve of the WXV Global Series in September.
The Wallaroos will travel to Manchester to meet World Cup champions England before away Tests against France in Marseille and Scotland in Edinburgh.
Scotland will then tour Australia for the first time with the Wallaroos to host matches in Sydney (October 17) and Canberra (October 23) to complete the 2026 Test calendar.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 11:05am WST at Go Media Stadium in Auckland live on Channel 9 GEM and Stan Sport.
WALLAROOS TEAM TO PLAY NEW ZEALAND
Starting XV
1. Brianna Hoy - #203 (NSW Waratahs/Coffs Harbour Snappers) – 13 caps
2. Tania Naden - #197 (ACT Brumbies/Uni-North Owls) – 29 caps
3. Eva Karpani - #171 (Queensland Reds/Southern Suburbs) – 45 caps
4. Kaitlan Leaney - #179 (NSW Waratahs/SCU Marlins) – 39 caps
5. Michaela Leonard - #168 (Western Force/Tuggeranong Vikings) – 46 caps
6. Siokapesi Palu Sekona (c) - #194 (ACT Brumbies/Rockdale Rangers) – 27 caps
7. Lily Bone - #229 (ACT Brumbies/Orange City) – 3 caps
8. Piper Duck - #185 (NSW Waratahs/Tumut Bullettes) – 26 caps
9. Tia Hinds - #222 (NSW Waratahs/Randwick) – 10 caps
10. Waiaria Ellis - #225 (NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions) – 6 caps
11. Desiree Miller - #204 (NSW Waratahs/Eastern Suburbs) – 27 caps
12. Cecilia Smith - #190 (Western Force/Leeton Dianas) – 30 caps
13. Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea - #170 (Queensland Reds/Sunnybank Dragons) – 4 caps
14. Maya Stewart - #196 (NSW Waratahs/Nelson Bay Gropers) – 26 caps
15. Faitala Moleka- #199 (ACT Brumbies/Blacktown Scorpions) – 30 caps
Replacements
16. Brittany Merlo - #230 (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University) – 3 caps
17. Allana Sikimeti - #212 (Western Force/Norths Eagles Rugby) – 3 caps
18. Bridie O’Gorman - #180 (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University) – 41 caps
19. Pia Tapsell* (Western Force/North Shore Rugby Club) – uncapped
20. Emily Chancellor - #158 (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University) – 37 caps
21. Samantha Wood - #207 (Western Force/Kalamunda Rugby) – 15 caps
22. Bienne Terita - #195 (Australia Sevens/Randwick) – 6 caps
23. Maddison Levi* (Australia Sevens/Bond University) – uncapped
*Denotes possible debut
