Three new faces but Duck ruled out as Wallaroos touring squad named by StuffsEarth

Wallaroos star Piper Duck will miss Australia’s matches in South Africa and Europe after undergoing ankle surgery last week.

Allana Sikimeti (calf) will also miss the away Test schedule which involves Tests in Ireland and Wales later this month and the WXV 2 matches against Wales, South Africa and Scotland in Cape Town.

Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp named 30 players in the squad with four changes from the July Test block.

FULL WALLAROOS FIXTURE LIST HERE

NSW Waratahs hooker Brittany Merlo was initially selected in the squad but picked up an injury during a recent training camp and is unavailable.

Uncapped trio Lucy Dinnen, Ashley Fernandez and Tiarah Minns are the new faces for the tour while veteran forward Sally Fuesaina has been recalled to the squad.

Fernandez was part of the Pacific Four series campaign but did not play a game while Minns returns after injury ruled her out of the Test matches in May.

Dinnen comes back into the Wallaroos fold and is eyeing a Test debut after being in extended squads in the lead-up to the 2022 Rugby World Cup previously.

Yapp said in a statement: “We are looking forward to playing against different teams in the second half of our season and with next year’s Rugby World Cup our long-term focus.

“The ability to travel overseas for most of our squad is a new experience and the upcoming matches against Ireland and Wales provides us with valuable match time before WXV in South Africa.

“We have had to make a few forced changes to the travelling squad due to injury which is disappointing, but we are also focused on those next in line and bringing out the best in them.”

The squad boasts experience, led by captain Michaela Leonard and vice-captain Trilleen Pomare, who have more than 50 Test caps between them.

Both Pomare and fellow veteran Ashley Marsters sit on 29 Test caps each and are eyeing the chance to overtake Liz Patu as most-capped players in Australian history.

Wallaroos winger Maya Stewart is also on track to return to the side after a hamstring injury ruled her out of Test matches against Fiji and New Zealand previously.

The Wallaroos depart for Belfast on September 6, playing against Ireland on September 14 before turning their attention to a Test match in Wales on September 20.

Yapp’s side will clash with Wales again in the opening round of WXV in Cape Town before matches against South Africa and Scotland.

2024 WALLAROOS SQUAD – WXV AND IRELAND AND WALES

Lori Cramer (#172 – University of Queensland) – 23 caps
Biola Dawa (#211 – Wagga Reddies) – 2 caps
Lucy Dinnen* (Wanneroo) – uncapped
Ashley Fernandez* (Uni-North Owls) – uncapped
Georgina Friedrichs (#178 – Wests Bulldogs) – 24 caps
Sally Fuesaina (Campbelltown Harlequins) – 3 caps
Caitlyn Halse (#210 – Southern Districts) – 2 caps
Brianna Hoy (#203 – Coffs Harbour Snappers) – 8 caps
Eva Karpani (#171 – Onkaparinga) – 26 caps
Lydia Kavoa (#214 – Eastern Suburbs) – 1 cap
Atasi Lafai (#161 – Campbelltown Harlequins) – 14 caps
Kaitlan Leaney (#179 – CSU Marlins) – 20 caps
Michaela Leonard (c) (#168 – Tuggeranong Vikings) – 27 caps
Ashley Marsters (#117 – Booroondarra) – 29 caps
Arabella McKenzie (#175 – Lightning Ridge Tigers) – 26 caps
Desiree Miller (#204 – Eastern Suburbs) – 7 caps
Tiarah Minns* (Manly Marlins) – uncapped
Faitala Moleka (#199 – Blacktown Scorpions) – 11 caps
Tiarna Molloy (#191 – Inverell Highlands) – 3 caps
Layne Morgan (#188 – Merewether Carlton) – 26 caps
Tania Naden (#197 – Uni-North Owls) – 15 caps
Leilani Nathan (#202 – Hamilton Hawks) – 7 caps
Alapeta Ngauamo* (Wests Bulldogs) – uncapped
Bridie O’Gorman (#180 – Sydney University) – 22 caps
Siokapesi Palu (#194 – Rockdale Rangers) – 11 caps
Trilleen Pomare (#155 – Wanneroo) – 29 caps
Cecilia Smith (#190 – Leeton Dianas) – 15 caps
Maya Stewart (#196 – Nelson Bay Gropers) – 11 caps
Tabua Tuinakauvadra (#200 – Tuggeranong Vikings) – 6 caps
Natalie Wright (#213 – Wests Bulldogs) – 2 caps

*denotes potential debutant