Homegrown WA scrum-half Samantha Wood has recalled into the Wallaroos squad for their upcoming Test matches against New Zealand and Wales kicking off from Saturday, July 12 at Sky Stadium in Wellington (12:30pm AWST).
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has named a 32-player squad, with five Force representatives among it, with Michaela Leonard, Ashley Marsters, Trilleen Pomare and Cecilia Smith alongside Wood.
Kalamunda scrum-half Wood missed the entire 2025 Smartech Super Rugby Women’s season due to injury after a breakout 2024 where she won the Rebecca Clough medal and earned her Wallaroos debut.
Wood, Piper Duck, Brianna Hoy and Maya Stewart all return from injury in a boost ahead of the Rugby World Cup while Annabelle Codey earns a recall to the Wallaroos squad for the first time since 2023.
Captain Siokapesi Palu will continue to lead the side with Emily Chancellor supporting as vice-captain while most-capped Wallaroo Ashley Marsters (38) is closing in on 40 Test appearances.
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp said: "Our June camps and the Australia A game have set up a strong platform as we head into the next three Test matches in preparation for the Rugby World Cup.
"We're excited about the squad selected with players returning from injury and the likes of Caitlin Urwin and Waiaria Ellis deserving of their opportunity to take the next step with us this year.
"New Zealand will provide another physical challenge and playing Wales twice on home soil leading into the World Cup will lay a good foundation ahead of the tournament."
The Wallaroos take on the Black Ferns in Wellington for their second O’Reilly Cup clash of the year before hosting Wales on July 26 in Brisbane and August 1 at North Sydney Oval.
A squad of 32 will be selected for the World Cup following the clash at North Sydney before the Wallaroos depart for the United Kingdom on August 11.
The countdown for Rugby World Cup 2025 continues. Tickets to our two remaining home Tests against Wales are available at wallaroos.rugby/tickets
WALLAROOS SQUAD FOR NEW ZEALAND AND WALES TESTS
• Katalina Amosa (ACT Brumbies/Southern Districts)
• Bree-Anna Browne (Queensland Reds/Brothers Rugby)
• Charlotte Caslick (Queensland Reds/Wests Bulldogs)
• Emily Chancellor (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
• Annabelle Codey (NSW Waratahs/Easts Brisbane)
• Lori Cramer (Queensland Reds/University of Queensland)
• Piper Duck (NSW Waratahs/Tumut Bullettes)
• Waiaria Ellis (NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions)*
• Ashley Fernandez (ACT Brumbies/Uni-North Owls)
• Caitlyn Halse (NSW Waratahs/Camden Rams)
• Georgina Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs/Wests Bulldogs)
• Tia Hinds (ACT Brumbies/Randwick)
• Brianna Hoy (NSW Waratahs/Coffs Harbour Snappers)
• Asoiva Karpani (Queensland Reds/Southern Suburbs)
• Lydia Kavoa (ACT Brumbies/Eastern Suburbs)
• Kaitlan Leaney (NSW Waratahs/CSU Marlins)
• Michaela Leonard (Western Force/Tuggeranong Vikings)
• Ashley Marsters (Western Force/Boroondara)
• Desiree Miller (NSW Waratahs/Eastern Suburbs)
• Faitala Moleka (ACT Brumbies/Blacktown Scorpions)
• Layne Morgan (Queensland Reds/Merewether Carlton)
• Tania Naden (ACT Brumbies/Uni-North Owls)
• Bridie O’Gorman (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
• Siokapesi Palu (ACT Brumbies/Rockdale Rangers)
• Faliki Pohiva (NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions)
• Trilleen Pomare (Western Force/Wanneroo)
• Cecilia Smith (Western Force/Leeton Dianas)
• Maya Stewart (NSW Waratahs/Nelson Bay Gropers)
• Adiana Talakai (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
• Tabua Tuinakauvadra (ACT Brumbies/Orange Emus)
• Caitlin Urwin (Queensland Reds/Gympie Hammers)*
• Samantha Wood (Western Force/Kalamunda Rugby)
* denotes uncapped player
