Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has confirmed a 36-man squad for the upcoming End of Year Tour which will see the side take on five northern hemisphere nations, including the current top-two, ranked sides in the world France and Ireland.
Rennie has selected five uncapped players in the group with Melbourne Rebels prop Sam Talakai and NSW pair Ben Donaldson and Mark Nawaqanitawase named as members of the Wallabies squad for the first time.
Donaldson and Nawaqanitawase impressed in the Australia A program in Fiji and Japan, alongside Jock Campbell and Langi Gleeson who are the other two players who could potentially debut in Europe.
Test-centurion Michael Hooper has also been named to re-enter the environment for the first time since the side travelled to Argentina, with the 123-Test capped James Slipper named to continue as captain of the side for the upcoming tour.
The versatile Ned Hanigan has been named in his first national setup since 2020 after also impressing in Japan for Australia A, with Western Force front rower Tom Robertson re-joining the group after Angus Bell was ruled out for the rest of the International season.
Rennie has chosen two overseas-based players in the squad, with La Rochelle’s Will Skelton in line for more game time in Wallaby gold after appearing in all three games off the bench in last year’s Spring Tour.
Flyhalf Bernard Foley is the other, with the number 10 making a return to the Test arena in the Bledisloe Cup Series last month.
The side will kick off their campaign with a Test against Scotland in Edinburgh before their first Test against France in Paris since 2016.
They will then move to play Italy in Florence before Tests against Ireland in Dublin and Wales in Cardiff to round out their 2022 season.
The squad will assemble in Sydney on Tuesday before embarking on the five-game tour the following day.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: “We’ve got a massive opportunity over the next five matches to test ourselves against some of the best teams in the world and string together some performances that our supporters are proud of back home in Australia.”
“It’s been really pleasing to continue to get game time into our players through the Australia A program and a number of those guys have been rewarded for their form with selection in the squad.
“To have Michael back in the group is massive for our team on and off the field and we’ll continue to make sure that he has the support around him he needs.”
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Squad summary
Total Test caps: 936
Average Test caps: 25
Average age: 27
Uncapped players: 5 (Jock Campbell, Ben Donaldson, Langi Gleeson, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Sam Talakai)
Most capped: James Slipper (123 Tests)
Youngest member: Langi Gleeson, 21
Oldest member: Cadeyrn Neville, 33
Breakdown: Brumbies 13, NSW Waratahs 9, Queensland Reds 6, Melbourne Rebels 5, Western Force 1, Overseas clubs 2
Wallabies squad for the 2022 Spring Tour (age, team, Tests played)
Allan Alaalatoa (28, ACT Brumbies, 60 Tests)
Tom Banks (28, ACT Brumbies, 20 Tests)
Jock Campbell (27, Queensland Reds, uncapped)
Ben Donaldson (23, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)
Folau Fainga’a (27, ACT Brumbies, 33 Tests)
Lalakai Foketi (27, NSW Waratahs, 4 Tests)
Bernard Foley (32, Kubota Spears, 73 Tests)
Matt Gibbon (27, Melbourne Rebels, 2 Tests)
Nick Frost (23, ACT Brumbies, 5 Tests)
Langi Gleeson (21, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)
Jake Gordon (29, NSW Waratahs, 16 Tests)
Ned Hanigan (27, NSW Waratahs, 25 Tests)
Reece Hodge (28, Melbourne Rebels, 60 Tests)
Jed Holloway (29, NSW Waratahs, 6 Tests)
Michael Hooper (30, NSW Waratahs, 121 Tests)
Len Ikitau (24, ACT Brumbies, 21 Tests)
Andrew Kellaway (27, Melbourne Rebels, 18 Tests)
Noah Lolesio (22, ACT Brumbies, 14 Tests)
Lachlan Lonergan (23, ACT Brumbies, 6 Tests)
Tate McDermott (23, Queensland Reds, 18 Tests)
Fraser McReight (23, Queensland Reds, 8 Tests)
Mark Nawaqanitawase (22, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)
Cadeyrn Neville (33, ACT Brumbies, 3 Tests)
Hunter Paisami (24, Queensland Reds, 20 Tests)
Jordan Petaia (22, Queensland Reds, 22 Tests)
Matt Philip (28, Melbourne Rebels, 27 Tests)
David Porecki (29, NSW Waratahs, 7 Tests)
Tom Robertson (28, Western Force, 27 Tests)
Pete Samu (30, ACT Brumbies, 28 Tests)
Will Skelton (30, Stade Rochelais, 21 Tests)
James Slipper (c) (33, ACT Brumbies, 123 Tests)
Sam Talakai (31, Melbourne Rebels, uncapped)
Taniela Tupou (26, Queensland Reds, 43 Tests)
Rob Valetini (24, ACT Brumbies, 27 Tests)
Nic White (32, ACT Brumbies, 56 Tests)
Tom Wright (25, ACT Brumbies, 18 Tests)
2022 Spring Tour Fixtures
Wallabies v Scotland, Sunday 30 October, 3:30am AEDT at BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Wallabies v France, Sunday 6 November, 7:00am AEDT at Stade de France, Paris
Wallabies v Italy, Sunday 13 November, 12:00am AEDT at Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence
Wallabies v Ireland, Sunday 20 November, 7:00am AEDT at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Wallabies v Wales, Sunday 27 November, 2:15am AEDT at Principality Stadium, Cardiff
