Western Force quintet Michaela Leonard, Ashley Marsters, Alapeta Ngauamo, Trilleen Pomare and Cecilia Smith have been named in the Wallaroos’ 40-player extended squad ahead of the side’s first Test match of the international season against Fijiana on May 3.
After a highly competitive SMARTECH Super Rugby Women’s competition, where the NSW Waratahs took out their sixth title, the Wallaroos will assemble in Canberra this week to begin preparations for the trip to Suva.
The squad includes 26 players that took out the WXV 2 title in South Africa last year, 11 uncapped players and four players who come back into the national frame.
The NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies are represented by 13 players each while the Queensland Reds have nine and Western Force five.
The Force quintet were all excellent throughout the 2025 season, with midfielder Smith starring with a joint team-high three tries.
Smith, who swapped the Reds for the Force in the off-season, finished in the league’s top 10 across carries (41, sixth overall), offloads (8, equal third) and running metres (342.7, ninth) during the regular season.
Force lock and Wallaroos captain Leonard was second in the Super W regular season for lineout takes (22) and equal second for lineout steals with four. She had 48 attacking ruck arrivals and 42 tackles, with five dominant tackles (equal third).
Versatile back-rower Marsters was equal fifth in the Super W regular season for tackles with 47 and equal fourth for breakdown steals with four. She was in the top 10 for defensive ruck arrivals (23).
Front-rower Ngauamo played an impact role off the bench, underlined by her 12 defensive ruck arrivals and 22 attacking ruck arrivals plus 16 successful tackles across 135 minutes.
Force captain and inside-centre Pomare scored two tries across the campaign where she didn’t miss a minute. Pomare had 10 tackle breaks and was ninth for tackles with 44.
Wallaroos Head Coach Jo Yapp said: "After a very competitive and successful Super Rugby Women’s competition we have selected a squad that can continue the momentum built off the WXV 2 win last year.
"It’s an exciting year for women’s rugby and the preparation we have with seven Test matches over the next three months is going to be crucial ahead of the World Cup.
"The squad is a mix of youth and experience with some new and returning players earning their opportunities.
"We are looking forward to seeing these players connect and grow throughout the upcoming camps and Pacific Four series."
Yapp will reduce the squad to 30 prior to the Wallaroos’ clash with Fijiana before a further six players can be added to the Wallaroos squad for the Pacific Four series.
The Wallaroos will play at least 10 Test matches in 2025, including three fixtures at the World Cup in August and September, following on from 10 Test matches played in 2024.
The Wallaroos will host the Pacific Four series throughout May with Test matches against New Zealand at McDonald Jones Stadium (May 10), USA at Canberra’s GIO Stadium (May 17) and Canada at Suncorp Stadium on May 23.
Every Wallaroos match in 2025 will be shown live and exclusive, ad-free and on demand on Stan Sport.
WALLAROOS EXTENDED SQUAD
• Katalina Amosa (ACT Brumbies/Southern Districts)*
• Ruby Anderson (NSW Waratahs/Avoca Beach Rugby)*
• Bree-Anna Browne (Queensland Reds/Wests Bulldogs)
• Charlotte Caslick (Queensland Reds/Wests Bulldogs)*
• Emily Chancellor (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
• Lori Cramer (Queensland Reds/University of Queensland)
• Annabelle Codey (NSW Waratahs/Easts Tigers)
• Biola Dawa (ACT Brumbies/Wagga Reddies)
• Waiaria Ellis (NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions)*
• Ashley Fernandez (ACT Brumbies/Uni-North Owls)*
• Georgina Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs/Wests Bulldogs)
• Martha Fua (ACT Brumbies/Blacktown Scorpions)*
• Caitlyn Halse (NSW Waratahs/Camden Rams)
• Zoe Hanna (Queensland Reds/Casuarina Beach Barbarians)*
• Tia Hinds (ACT Brumbies/Randwick)*
• Eva 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)
• Arabella McKenzie (NSW Waratahs/Lightning Ridge Tigers)
• Desiree Miller (NSW Waratahs/Eastern Suburbs)
• Tiarah Minns (Queensland Reds/Melbourne University)
• Faitala Moleka (ACT Brumbies/Blacktown Scorpions)
• Manua Moleka (ACT Brumbies/Manly Mermaids)*
• Tiarna Molloy (Queensland Reds/Inverell Highlanders)
• Layne Morgan (Queensland Reds/Merewether Carlton)
• Tania Naden (ACT Brumbies/Uni-North Owls)
• Alapeta Ngauamo (Western Force/GPS Rugby Club)
• Bridie O’Gorman (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
• Siokapesi Palu (ACT Brumbies/Rockdale Rangers)
• Faliki Pohiva (NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions)*
• Trilleen Pomare (Western Force/Wanneroo)
• Ella Ryan (ACT Brumbies/Canberra Royals)*
• Cecilia Smith (Western Force/Leeton Dianas)
• Maya Stewart (NSW Waratahs/Nelson Bay Gropers)
• Adiana Talakai (NSW Waratahs/Maroubra Magic)
• Bienne Terita (ACT Brumbies/Randwick)
• Tabua Tuinakauvadra (ACT Brumbies/Orange Emus)
• Natalie Wright (Queensland Reds/Wests Bulldogs)
* denotes uncapped player
Unavailable for selection due to injury
• Piper Duck (shoulder)
• Brianna Hoy (knee)
• Atasi Lafai (knee)
• Leilani Nathan (knee)
• Samantha Wood (back)
WALLAROOS 2025 TEST SCHEDULE
Saturday, May 3: Fijiana v Wallaroos, HFC Bank Stadium, Suva - 1:00pm AWST
Saturday, May 10: Wallaroos v Black Ferns, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle - 1:00pm AWST (Pacific Four Series)
Saturday, May 17: Wallaroos v USA, GIO Stadium, Canberra - 2:55pm AWST (Pacific Four Series)
Friday, May 23: Wallaroos v Canada, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane - 2:55pm AWST (Pacific Four Series)
Saturday, July 12: Black Ferns v Wallaroos, Sky Stadium, Wellington - 12:30pm AWST (O'Reilly Cup)
Saturday, July 26: Wallaroos v Wales, Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane - 12:00pm AWST
Friday, August 1: Wallaroos v Wales, North Sydney Oval - 5:00pm AWST
RUGBY WORLD CUP 2025
Saturday, August 23: Wallaroos v Samoa, Salford Community Stadium, Manchester - 7:00pm AWST
Sunday, August 31: Wallaroos v USA at York Community Stadium, York - 2:30am WEST
Sunday, September 7: Wallaroos v England at Brighton and Hove Stadium, Brighton and Hove - 12:00am WST
