Thirteen NSW Waratahs players have been named in the Wallaroos 30-player squad for the upcoming Pacific Four series starting against Canada at Allianz Stadium on May 11.
NSW were undefeated throughout the Buildcorp Super Rugby Women's season and ultimately went on to win the Championship, defeating the Fijiana Drua 50-14 at Ballymore Stadium.
WallaroosCoach Jo Yapp has included 20 players who were part of last year’s O’Reilly Cup and WXV campaigns while nine potential debutants are among the fresh faces in the squad.
A further 10 development players will also join camp ahead of the opening game in Sydney.
Wallaroos lock Michaela Leonard will continue her role as captain for the series and will be joined by experienced forwards Eva Karpani, Bridie O’Gorman and Ashley Marsters in the pack while Piper Duck returns to the squad after missing last season due to injury.
The uncapped players named in the squad range from teenagers Shalom Sauaso, Allana Sikimeti and Caitlyn Halse to 32-year-old Sally Fuesaina, who has earned a position after strong performances for ACT Brumbies.
Wallaroos Head Coach Jo Yapp said: “The Super Rugby Women's competition has been really competitive and has given us a great opportunity to not only observe our managed group but up-and-coming players too.
"We feel the squad we have selected for the Pacific Four series gives us a good mix of experience and youth. We are really looking forward to getting into camp and kick starting the competition against Canada. "We will also bring in 10 development players into the training squad for the first six days. It is important that we start to expose more players to that next level up. We won’t know if they can take that step unless we give them the opportunity to do so."
National Women’s High Performance Manager Jaime Fernandez added: "I would like to congratulate all of the players selected, it is great reward for their efforts and performances throughout the Super Rugby Women’s competition.
"I want to thank Jo and her team of coaches for undertaking a thorough and comprehensive process, whereby they selected a squad reflective of the fierce and competitive Super Rugby Woman’s series.
"Players in both the Pacific Four and Development squads have demonstrated their capability and form throughout the last 10 weeks of pre-season and Super Rugby competition.
"I have been extremely pleased with the coaching staff’s approach and the attention to detail they have demonstrated, resulting in the Wallaroos’ first squad for 2024.
“I am also encouraged to see a mix of experience and youth, along with recognition of a group of players who are not far away from representative honours.
"We are firmly focused on not only the immediate goal of the upcoming Pacific Four series, but future Tests in 2024, and of course, the longer-term goal being the Rugby World Cup in 2025.”
The Wallaroos host Canada at Allianz Stadium on May 11 before shifting to Melbourne where they’ll take on the USA at AAMI Park on May 17.
Their final match of the series will be played in Auckland against New Zealand on May 25.
Tickets for the Pacific Four series are available at Ticketek while fans catch the action live ad-free and on-demand on Stan Sport.
2024 WALLAROOS SQUAD - PACIFIC FOUR SERIES
- Allana Sikimeti* (ACT Brumbies) – uncapped
- Asoiva (Eva) Karpani (NSW Waratahs) – 21 caps
- Brianna Hoy (NSW Waratahs) – 3 caps
- Bridie O'Gorman (NSW Waratahs) – 17 caps
- Sally Fuesaina* (ACT Brumbies) - uncapped
- Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke* (Western Force) – uncapped
- Tania Naden (ACT Brumbies) – 10 caps
- Kaitlan Leaney (NSW Waratahs) – 15 caps
- Michaela Leonard (c) (Western Force) – 22 caps
- Tiarah Minns* (Melbourne Rebels) – uncapped
- Ashley Marsters (Melbourne Rebels) – 26 caps
- Atasi Lafai (NSW Waratahs) – 9 caps
- Leilani Nathan (NSW Waratahs) – 2 caps
- Lydia Kavoa* (ACT Brumbies) – uncapped
- Siokapesi Palu (ACT Brumbies) – 6 caps
- Piper Duck (NSW Waratahs) – 10 caps
- Tabua Tuinakauvadra (ACT Brumbies) – 4 caps
- Layne Morgan (NSW Waratahs) – 19 caps
- Samantha Wood* (Western Force) – uncapped
- Arabella McKenzie (NSW Waratahs) – 21 caps
- Faitala Moleka (ACT Brumbies) – 6 caps
- Cecilia Smith (Queensland Reds) – 12 caps
- Georginia Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs) – 19 caps
- Shalom Sauaso* (Queensland Reds) – uncapped
- Trilleen Pomare (Western Force) – 24 caps
- Biola Dawa* (ACT Brumbies) – uncapped
- Desiree Miller (NSW Waratahs) – 2 caps
- Maya Stewart (NSW Waratahs) – 8 caps
- Caitlyn Halse* (NSW Waratahs) – uncapped
- Lori Cramer (Queensland Reds) – 19 caps
*denotes potential debutant
Capped players unavailable for selection due to injury
- Emily Chancellor
- Bree-Anna Cheatham
- Jasmin Huriwai
- Adiana Talakai
WALLAROOS DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
- Ashley Fernandez (ACT Brumbies)
- Ashlea Bishop (ACT Brumbies)
- Brittany Merlo (NSW Waratahs)
- Janita Kareta (Queensland Reds)
- Melanie Wilks (Queensland Reds)
- Natalie Wright (Queensland Reds)
- Skye Churchill (NSW Waratahs)
- Tamika Jones (Western Force)
- Tiarna Molloy (Queensland Reds)
- Waiaria Ellis (NSW Waratahs)
PACIFIC FOUR SERIES
- Wallaroos v Canada – Saturday May 11, Allianz Stadium, Sydney 4:45pm (AEST)
- Wallaroos v USA – Friday, May 17, AAMI Park, Melbourne 4:45pm (AEST)
- Wallaroos v New Zealand – Saturday, May 25, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland 4:05pm (AEST)
