Schmidt starts B&I Lions prep, despite coaching uncertainty

While Rugby Australia awaits a call on his coaching future, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has continued planning for next year’s British and Irish Lions tour by naming a 40-man training squad.

With the Wallabies assembling in Sydney from January 8 for a three-day camp, their schedule includes a debrief of the 2024 Test season and medical and physical testing on players before their returns to their Super Rugby Pacific teams.

The squad features 22 forwards and 18 backs, with uncapped Queensland prop Massimo De Lutiis the only player not to run out under Schmidt this year.

De Lutiis, 21, has yet to make his Super Rugby debut after missing the 2024 season with a quad injury, but he impressed when starting for an Australia XV against England A in November.

Schmidt has mostly stuck with his recent selections, leaving out players who didn’t see out the year through injury and any overseas-based stars.

It will be the only time a Wallabies squad is together before the end of the 2025 Super Rugby season, with the British and Irish Lions arriving in late June.

“These two and a half days provide a final opportunity to look back at the 2024 season, particularly our Tests in November, then have a glance at the program for 2025,” Schmidt said in a statement

“It’s also a chance for the Wallabies performance and medical staff to facilitate testing before the players from the spring tour officially restart with their Super Rugby Pacific sides.

“As well as those in camp, it’s great to see several players coming back from injury and others who did well for the Australia XV team, who we are looking forward to watching during the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season.”

(Article continues below ….)

Meanwhile, Schmidt’s decision on a contract extension following the Lions tour may stretch into the new year.

Rugby Australia said they were hopeful of having a decision from the Kiwi coach when he returned from an Ireland holiday earlier this month, but he was yet to make a call.

The governing body’s boss Phil Waugh is looking to lock Schmidt down through to the next Rugby World Cup, in Australia in 2027, but is also working on a “contingency plan” that involves the four Super Rugby coaches.

“I think Joe was quite overt around the fact that he saw his responsibility in elevating Australia and also providing a platform for an Australian to take over when he does finish up,” Waugh told media earlier this month.

“If you look across our Super Rugby clubs now the four head coaches across the system – Simon Cron is a strong coach at the Force, you’ve got Stephen Larkin at the Brumbies, Les Kiss in Queensland and Dan McKellar at NSW, so we’ve got four very strong coaches in our system.

“I think that we’re well positioned.”

Wallaby squad

Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Angus Blyth, Josh Canham, Massimo De Lutiis, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Isaac Kailea, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Seru Uru, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson.

Backs: Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, Josh Flook, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Darby Lancaster, Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Nic White, Tom Wright.