Western Force pair Michaela Leonard and Trilleen Pomare have been named in the Buildcorp Wallaroos travelling squad for the upcoming Laurie O’Reilly Cup Test against New Zealand, and World Rugby’s season-ending WXV1 tournament.
Wallaroos head coach Jay Tregonning confirmed a 30-player travelling squad on Tuesday, with 18-cap Leonard to lead the side as captain again in the continued absence of Piper Duck due to an ankle injury.
The Wallaroos are at the halfway point of the season, having played four Test matches – winning two – and with four more to play against powerhouses New Zealand, England, France and Wales to finish the year.
Head Coach Jay Tregonning says the Wallaroos squad is eager to finish off their season in strong fashion.
“It was great to have the majority of the managed squad in camp during the first week of September at Ballymore, the new home for women’s rugby,” Tregonning said.
“From this camp, the selectors have chosen a squad of 30 leading into the upcoming Laurie O’Reilly Cup and WXV tournament.
“We are excited to get back out there and to continue to test ourselves against the best teams in the World.
“The squad remains largely the same from the Pacific Four Series as we look to continue to build combinations and test experience. New Zealand into England, France and Wales is an exciting way to finish up the 2023 season.
The team will assemble at the Ballymore National Rugby Training Centre in Brisbane this Friday 22 September, before travelling to Hamilton in New Zealand on the 27th to face the Black Ferns in the Laurie O’Reilly Cup.
The Wallaroos' WXV1 campaign kicks off against England in Wellington on the 20th October.
The Laurie O’Reilly Cup and all Wallaroos games from WXV1 will be available to view for Australian fans live, on-demand and ad-free on Stan Sport.
WALLAROOS SQUAD FOR O'REILLY CUP AND WXV1 MATCHES
Forwards
Emily Chancellor – 32 – Harlequins – 19 caps
Bree-Anna Cheatham – 26 – Queensland Reds – 5 caps
Annabelle Codey – 26 – Queensland Reds – 4 caps
Brianna Hoy – 23 – NSW Waratahs – uncapped
Eva Karpani – 27 – NSW Waratahs – 17 caps
Atasi Lafai – 29 – NSW Waratahs – 6 caps
Kaitlan Leaney – 22 – Harlequins – 11 caps
Michaela Leonard (c) – 28 – Western Force – 18 caps
Ashley Marsters – 29 – Melbourne Rebels – 23 caps
Tania Naden – 31 – ACT Brumbies – 6 caps
Sera Naiqama – 28 – NSW Waratahs – 10 caps
Leilani Nathan – 23 – NSW Waratahs – uncapped
Bridie O’Gorman – 24 – NSW Waratahs – 15 caps
Emily Robinson – 30 – NSW Waratahs – 20 caps
Adiana Talakai – 24 – NSW Waratahs – 12 caps
Tabua Tuinakauvadra – 20 – ACT Brumbies – 1 cap
Backs
Lori Cramer – 30 – Exeter Chiefs – 17 caps
Carys Dallinger – 23 – Queensland Reds – 2 caps
Georgina Friedrichs – 28 – NSW Waratahs – 15 caps
Jasmin Huriwai – 29 – ACT Brumbies – 4 caps
Arabella McKenzie – 24 – Harlequins – 18 caps
Desiree Miller – 21 – NSW Waratahs – uncapped
Faitala Moleka – 18 – ACT Brumbies – 2 caps
Layne Morgan – 24 – NSW Waratahs – 15 caps
Trilleen Pomare – 30 – Western Force – 21 caps
Cecilia Smith – 29 – Queensland Reds – 8 caps
Maya Stewart – 23 – NSW Waratahs – 5 caps
Melanie Wilks - 23 - Queensland Reds - uncapped
Ivania Wong – 25 – Queensland Reds – 11 caps
Utility
Siokapesi Palu – 26 – ACT Brumbies – 3 caps
BUILDCORP WALLAROOS 2023 FIXTURES
Wallaroos 22 defeated Fijiana 5, Saturday 20 May, at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Wallaroos 0 defeated by Black Ferns 50, Thursday 29 June, at Dolphin Stadium, Moreton Bay (First O'Reilly Cup Match, Pacific Four Series)
Wallaroos 58 defeated USA 17, Saturday 8 July, at TD Place, Ottawa (Pacific Four Series)
Wallaroos 7 defeated by Canada 45, Friday 14 July, at TD Place, Ottawa (Pacific Four Series)
Wallaroos v Black Ferns, Saturday 30 September, FMG Stadium, Waikato (Second O'Reilly Cup Match)
Wallaroos v England, Friday 20 October, at Sky Stadium, Wellington, 7:00pm NZDT (WXV1)
Wallaroos v France, Saturday 28 October, at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 7:00pm NZDT (WXV1)
Wallaroos v Wales, Friday 3 November, Go Media Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, 7:00pm NZDT (WXV1)
