Eight Western Force players have been named in the 36-man Wallabies’ squad for the upcoming British & Irish Lions Series that starts on Saturday week in Brisbane.
Force octet Nick Champion de Crespigny, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Tom Robertson, Carlo Tizzano, Nic White and Jeremy Williams have all been named.
There are numerous storylines within the squad, with Wallabies record-holder for most Test appearances James Slipper (144) set to join Wallabies great George Smith in playing for Australia in two successive Lions Series.
Slipper is joined by Wallaby No. 832, James O’Connor, who has also been selected for what will be his second consecutive series, having started at fly-half in all three matches of the 2013 campaign.
O’Connor, who last played a Test for his country in 2022, joins the group in place of Noah Lolesio, who was ruled out through injury earlier in the week and is one of only two changes from the squad named to play Fiji last month, with Queensland lock Josh Canham also added.
Experienced scrum-half White is retained in the squad, having missed out on Wallabies selection in 2013 due to injury. France-based Will Skelton, who played against the Lions for the Waratahs 12 years ago, has also been named.
Queensland’s Tom Lynagh is one step closer to becoming the first Wallaby to follow in his father’s footsteps in playing against the Lions, with his father Michael having pulled on the gold jersey when the side toured in 1989.
Brumbies speedster Corey Toole and Force backrower Champion de Crespigny are the only two uncapped players named in the squad, which is comprised of 20 forwards and 16 backs.
The side will remain in Brisbane ahead of the series opener at Suncorp Stadium next Saturday night before the two sides meet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday July 26, with the final Test at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Saturday August 2.
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt said: “As Wallabies coaches, we have tried to balance continuity with form and freshness, but there were some very tight calls.
“We’re conscious of how special it is to play the British and Irish Lions, so for those selected in the squad, they’ll be competing for Test jerseys, while also trying to help others prepare. We need to improve our accuracy and cohesion with a very short runway leading up to the first Test here in eight days. We are excited by what’s to come.”
Wallabies squad (Wallaby number, first Australian Rugby club, Super Rugby Pacific club, Test caps)
Forwards (20)
Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors, ACT Brumbies, 81)
Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 36)
Josh Canham (#987, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 1)
Nick Champion De Crespigny (uncapped, Canberra Grammar School, Western Force, 0)
Matt Faessler (#969, USQ Saints, Queensland Reds, 14)
Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions, ACT Brumbies, 26)
Langi Gleeson (#960, Harbord Harlequins, NSW Waratahs, 15)
Tom Hooper (#964, Bathurst Bulldogs, ACT Brumbies, 11)
Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies, Queensland Reds, 26)
Zane Nonggorr (#966, Gold Coast Eagles, Queensland Reds, 11)
Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 7)
David Porecki (#952, Seaforth Raiders, NSW Waratahs, 20)
Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos, Western Force, 31)
Will Skelton (#883, The Hills Sports High School, Stade Rochelais (France), 32)
James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates, ACT Brumbies, 144)
Carlo Tizzano (#982, University of Western Australia, Western Force, 6)
Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby (Brisbane), NSW Waratahs, 58)
Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 52)
Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers, Western Force, 11)
Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils, Queensland Reds, 23)
Backs (16)
Filipo Daugunu (#931, Wests Rugby Club (Brisbane), Queensland Reds, 12)
Ben Donaldson (#962, Clovelly Eagles, Western Force, 17)
Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 40)
Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves, NSW Waratahs, 8)
Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 39)
Tom Lynagh (#977, University of Queensland, Queensland Reds, 3)
Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 42)
James O’Connor (#832, St Joseph’s College, Nudgee, Crusaders (New Zealand), 64)
Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 31)
Dylan Pietsch (#978, Leeton Phantoms, Western Force, 5)
Harry Potter (#989, Moorabbin Rams, Western Force, 3)
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (#988, The Kings School, NSW Waratahs, 5)
Corey Toole (uncapped, Wagga Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, 0)
Nic White (#875, Maitland Blacks, Western Force, 72)
Tom Wright (#939, Clovelly Eagles, ACT Brumbies, 38)
Fixtures
Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 5:45pm AWST on Saturday July 19 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 5:45pm AWST on Saturday July 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 5:45pm AWST on Saturday August 2 at Accor Stadium, Sydney
