Cod-hopper Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii had not played a game of rugby since he was a schoolboy star, but he immediately made a splash after being named in the 34-man Wallabies squad for their spring tour of England, fresh out of the NRL.
Suaalii, who signed the biggest contract in Australian rugby history, only joined his NSW Waratahs teammates last week after recovering from a “brutal” season with the Sydney Roosters, which ended in a preliminary final defeat.
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International Warrant for Wallabies Cap | 00:29
The 21-year-old was initially expected to be included in the Australia
Last week Suaalii said he was ready to do either as a schoolboys rugby star. This included a standout performance in Australia’s series win over New Zealand in 2019 before switching to rugby league, but he needed just a little “fine-tuning”. To return to his rugby roots.
“I played the game at school, fine-tuned and regained the skills I had in rugby and was able to play football,” he said.
“I love football and playing Union. So that’s what I expect.
“I am ready. If they throw me, I’m ready to go. I have always supported playing football. “I am very confident in my playing ability because I have always backed myself to play against anyone,” he said.
Suaalii is one of five new faces in the Rugby Championship squad, including 2023 Rugby World Cup squad members Samu Kerevi and Will Skelton.
NSW Waratahs flyhalf Tane Edmed and Western Force winger Harry Potter were also selected for the first international squad.
This year’s spring tour will feature Tests against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland over four consecutive weekends in November.
“The team has had a chance to regenerate over the last few weeks. At the same time, it was great to meet more players at our two-day training hubs in Canberra and Brisbane last week,” said Coach Schmidt.
“We have a relatively consistent group, but we will be incorporating several new players into the tour.
“As we try to balance opportunities for our players, some of our recent squad members will get some much-needed playing time with the Australia XV, which will also allow us to expand our roster of players in highly competitive matches.”
wallabies squad
Forward (19)
Alan Allaratoa (#896, West Harbor Juniors)
Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)
Matt Passler (#969, USQ Saints)
Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions)
Langie Gleason (#960, Harvard Harlequins)
Isaac Cailia (#975, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Fraser McWright (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (#918, South Region)
Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroo)
Lucan Salakaia-Lotto (#914, Randwick)
Will Skelton (#883, Wentworthville Magpies)
James Sleeper (#843, Bond Pirates)
Carlo Tizzano (#982, University of Western Australia)
Daniel Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby)
Sir Ur (#985, West Bulldogs)
Rob Ballettini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers)
Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils)
Backrest (15)
Ben Donaldson (#962, Clovelly Eagles)
Thane Edmed (Unlimited, West Harbor Juniors)
Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors)
Only Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves)
Andrew Calloway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)
Samu Kerevi (#892, South Magpies)
Noah Rolecio (#934, Viking Tournament)
Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club)
Hunter Paisami (Harlequin Junior Rugby Club #932)
Dylan Pietsch (#978, Leeton Phantoms)
Harry Potter (Unlimited, Moorabbin Rams)
Joseph-Aukuso Suali (Uncapped, King’s School)
Nick White (#875, Maitland Blacks)
Tom Wright (#939, Clovely Eagles)
Tour Schedule – Spring 2024 Tour
Wallabies v England, 2.10am AEDT, Sunday 10 November, Twickenham, London.
Wallabies v Wales, Monday 18 November, 3.10am (AEDT), Principality Stadium, Cardiff.
Wallabies v Scotland, 12.40am AEDT, Monday 25 November, Murrayfield, Edinburgh.
Wallabies v Ireland, 2.10am AEDT, Sunday 1 December, Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Meanwhile, Wallabies and Australia XV coaches have selected 30 players to travel to England for matches against Bristol and England A next month.
Australia XV National Team (Super Rugby Pacific Club, Australia’s first rugby club)
Forward (17)
Angus Blythe (Queensland Reds – Kausarina Beach Rugby Club)
Joe Briall (Queensland Reds – East (Sydney))
John Bryant (Queensland Reds – South Magpies)
Josh Canham (Queensland Reds – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Massimo De Lutiz (Queensland Reds – Surfers Paradise Dolphins)
Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies – Bathurst Bulldogs)
Harry Huppert (Western Force – Dalby Whitman)
Tom Horton (Western Force – Mosman Whale)
Tom Lambert (NSW Waratahs – Wests Juniors)
Lachlan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies – Tuggeranong Vikings)
Josh Nasser (Queensland Reds – East Rugby (Brisbane))
Jane Ngongor (Queensland Reds – Gold Coast Eagles)
Luke Reimer (ACT Brumbies – Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
Rory Scott (ACT Brumbies – Canberra Royals)
Ryan Smith (Queensland Reds – Caboolture Snakes)
Darcy Swain (Western Army – Tuggeranong Vikings)
Reece Van Nek (ACT Brumbies – Easts Rugby (Brisbane))
Backrest (13)
Lachie Anderson (Queensland Reds – Dural Juniors)
Jock Campbell (Queensland Reds – Inverell Highlanders)
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (Western Force – Port Douglas Leaf Raiders)
Josh Flook (Queensland Reds – Brothers Rugby)
Darby Lancaster (NSW Waratahs – Kempsey Cannonballs)
Ryan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies – Tuggeranong Vikings)
Tom Lynagh (Queensland Reds – University of Queensland)
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Queensland Reds – Gunnedah Red Devils)
Andy Muirhead (ACT Brumbies – Souths Magpies)
Ollie Sapsford (ACT Brumbies – Uni-Norths Owls)
Hamish Stewart (Western Force – Toowoomba Bears)
Corey Toole (ACT Brumbies – Wagga Waratahs)
Joey Walton (NSW Waratahs – Warnervale Wildcats)
You cannot choose.
Kirtley Bill (Achilles)
Charlie Cale (shoulder)
Philippe Dagunou (legs)
David Feliuay (Reason for Family)
Lalakai Foketi (Suspension)
Alex Hodgman (Family Reason)
Harry Johnson-Holmes (Achilles)
Bailey Kunzel (knee)
Rob Leota (calf)
David Porecki (Reason for the Family)
Tim Ryan (ankle)
Blake Schupp (shoulder)
Liam Wright (shoulder)
