Departing Schmidt takes gamble with rookie trio for Nations Championship
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies coaches have selected a 37-player squad for the upcoming Nations Championship Tests on home soil next month.
Schmidt is coaching his last three Wallabies tests, against Ireland, France and Italy, before handing over the reins to incoming head coach Les Kiss.
The outgoing coach has named uncapped Brumbies pair Declan Meredith and Lachlan Shaw and Waratahs lock Miles Amatosero in the squad.
Meredith, 29, grew up in Cairns and played his junior rugby for Barron Trinity Bulls before moving to Canberra and earning his selection following strong performances at flyhalf for the Brumbies.
Shaw, 23, stands 200cm tall and progressed through the Brisbane ranks as a junior before also moving to Canberra to further his development, representing the Junior Wallabies in 2023 and becoming a mainstay in the second row and prominent feature of the Brumbies’ lineout in 2026.
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Amatosero, who turned 24 during the week, began his rugby journey as a South Coogee junior, coming through the NSW pathways before spending three years at Clermont Auvergne in France . He returned to Sydney ahead of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season and has been rewarded for his strong season in sky blue in 2026 with selection in his first Wallabies’ squad.
Reds’ fullback Jock Campbell is a step closer to returning to the gold jersey, having last played for his country back in 2022, while Charlie Cale also returns to the national group after injury ruled him out of last year’s Test campaign.
All-time Wallabies’ Test appearance record holder James Slipper has also been named to make a potential comeback from Test retirement, with scrumhalf Tate McDermott and fullback Tom Wright also returning having missed the back end of last year’s campaign with injury.
UK-based pair Len Ikitau and Tom Hooper, alongside France-based prop Taniela Tupou have also been selected, with all three set to feature in domestic finals matches this weekend. Loosehead prop Angus Bell is also part of the squad having spent a season on sabbatical with Ulster in Ireland.
The group, which consists of 20 forwards and 17 backs, will assemble in Sydney on Wednesday ahead of their sold-out opening match of 2026 against Ireland at Allianz Stadium on Saturday July 4. They will then travel to Brisbane to play France at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday July 11 before crossing the country to take on Italy at Perth’s HBF Park on Saturday July 18.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: “There have been ongoing discussions amongst the coaches for a number of months and, as always, there are some very good players who have not been selected for this first international window.
“We’ve settled on a group that we think will work hard and can perform well against three top-tier European teams with the added excitement of competing in the new Nations Championship for the first time.”
Australia:
Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Miles Amatosero, Angus Bell, Charlie Cale, Josh Canham, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Lachlan Shaw, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson.
Backs: Jock Campbell, Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Josh Flook, Carter Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Declan Meredith, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Kalani Thomas, Corey Toole, Tom Wright.
