Crusaders fly-half James O’Connor has missed out on selection in the first Wallabies squad of 2025, with coach Joe Schmidt naming two potential debutants in a 36-player group set to assemble this weekend ahead of the July 6 Test against Fiji.
O’Connor seemed to be in with a chance of a stunning Wallabies recall, having performed well off the bench for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific. Coach Schmidt has instead gone with Tom Lynagh, Ben Donaldson and Japan-bound Noah Lolesio as the three No. 10s.
Paris Olympian Corey Toole and Western Force backrower Nick Champion de Crespigny are the only uncapped players in the squad, with the pair among the standouts for their respective Super Rugby clubs this season.
NSW Waratahs hooker David Porecki has been selected in the Wallabies squad for the first time since captaining the national side in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and another former skipper – Wil Skelton – has also been selected as the only overseas-based Wallaby.
After a strong season out west with the Force, Darcy Swain has been named, with the lock last playing a Test on November 12, 2022, against Italy during Australia’s Spring Tour. Fellow Force second-rower Jeremy Williams has also been selected.
With the Lions starting their tour against the Force next weekend, Perth-bsaed players will stay out west to prepare for that match. Champion de Crespigny, Swain, Williams, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson and Nic White will be available for that fixture.
In their absence, seven players have been added to the Wallabies’ wider group to help prepare for the Fiji Test in Newcastle. Tane Edmed, David Feliuai, Darby Lancaster, Ryan Lonergan, Isaac Kailea, Matt Philp and Rory Scott will be with the Wallabies in the meantime.
“Selection is always tight and there’ll be players who are excited and those that are disappointed. As coaches there was a lot of healthy, robust discussion and we think we’ve selected a group that will work hard and connect well as a squad,” Schmidt said.
“There’s some continuity from last year, plus a few new or returning players, who have forced their way into the mix through strong performances in Super Rugby Pacific.
“This squad’s immediate focus is Fiji, and we will need to hit the ground running having not been together since early January.”
Rugby Australia have released a three-man list of those who are unavailable for selection because of injury, with those being Charlie Cale, uncapped prospect Massimo De Lutiis, and former Wallabies captain Liam Wright.
At the time of writing, there is no update on who will captain the Wallabies.
The Wallabies take on Fiji at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium on July 6 before turning their focus towards the British & Irish Lions Series. Those Tests will be in Brisbane on July 19, Melbourne on July 26, and Sydney on August 2.
Wallabies squad to take on Fiji
Forwards (20)
Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors, ACT Brumbies, 80)
Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 35)
Nick Champion De Crespigny (uncapped, Canberra Grammar School, Western Force, 0)*
Matt Faessler (#969, USQ Saints, Queensland Reds, 14)
Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions, ACT Brumbies, 25)
Langi Gleeson (#960, Harbord Harlequins, NSW Waratahs, 14)
Tom Hooper (#964, Bathurst Bulldogs, ACT Brumbies, 10)
Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies, Queensland Reds, 25)
Zane Nonggorr (#966, Gold Coast Eagles, Queensland Reds, 10)
Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 6)
David Porecki (#952, Seaforth Raiders, NSW Waratahs, 19)
Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos, Western Force, 31)*
Will Skelton (#883, Wentworthville Magpies, Stade Rochelais (France), 32)
James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates, ACT Brumbies, 143)
Darcy Swain (#941, JCU Mariners, Western Force, 17)*
Carlo Tizzano (#982, University of Western Australia, Western Force 5)
Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby (Brisbane), NSW Waratahs, 58)
Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 52)
Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers, Western Force, 10)
Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils, Queensland Reds, 22)
Backs (16)
Filipo Daugunu (#931, Wests Rugby Club (Brisbane), Queensland Reds, 11)
Ben Donaldson (#962, Clovelly Eagles, Western Force, 16)
Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 39)
Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves, NSW Waratahs, 7)
Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 39)
Noah Lolesio (#934, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 29)
Tom Lynagh (#977, University of Queensland, Queensland Reds, 3)
Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 41)
Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 31)
Dylan Pietsch (#978, Leeton Phantoms, Western Force, 5)*
Harry Potter (#989, Moorabbin Rams, Western Force, 2)
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (#988, The Kings School, NSW Waratahs, 4)
Corey Toole (uncapped, Wagga Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, 0)
Nic White (#875, Maitland Blacks, Western Force, 71)*
Tom Wright (#939, Clovelly Eagles, ACT Brumbies, 37)
*indicates player will remain in Perth to prepare for the Western Force fixture against the
British & Irish Lions on Saturday June 28 before joining the squad in Newcastle.
Wider training squad members while select players above remain in Perth
Tane Edmed
David Feliuai
Darby Lancaster
Ryan Lonergan
Isaac Kailea
Matt Philip
Rory Scott
2025 Wallabies Tests
Wallabies v Fiji at 1:30pm AEST on Sunday July 6 at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
British & Irish Lions Tour
Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday July 19 at Suncorp Stadium,
Brisbane
Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday July 26 at Melbourne Cricket
Ground, Melbourne
Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday August 2 at Accor Stadium,
Sydney
