Wallaroos bring in 17-year-old rookie for Black Ferns

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Wallaroos announced a 32-player squad for their upcoming Test matches against New Zealand and Wales, kicking off from Saturday, July 12 in Wellington.

Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has included two uncapped players in her squad, headlined by 17-year-old Waiaria Ellis and Queensland Reds winger Caitlin Urwin.

Ellis and Urwin both performed strongly for Australia A in their 50-22 victory over Manusina last Saturday and will push for a Wallaroos debut in the coming weeks.

Western Sydney product Ellis toured with the Wallaroos during WXV 2 in South Africa last year, while Urwin, from Queensland’s Gympie, joins the national squad for the first time.

The pair join Western Force’s Samantha Wood and Waratahs quartet Annabelle Codey, Piper Duck, Brianna Hoy and Maya Stewart as fresh faces in the squad following the Pacific Four series.

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Wood, Duck, Hoy and Stewart all return from injury in a boost ahead of the Rugby World Cup, while Codey earns a recall to the Wallaroos squad for the first time since 2023.

Captain Siokapesi Palu will continue to lead the side with Emily Chancellor supporting as vice-captain while most-capped Wallaroo Ashley Marsters (38) is closing in on 40 Test appearances.

Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp said: “Our June camps and the Australia A game have set up a strong platform as we head into the next three Test matches in preparation for the Rugby World Cup.

“We’re excited about the squad selected with players returning from injury and the likes of Caitlin Urwin and Waiaria Ellis deserving of their opportunity to take the next step with us this year.

“New Zealand will provide another physical challenge and playing Wales twice on home soil leading into the World Cup will lay a good foundation ahead of the tournament.”

The Wallaroos take on the Black Ferns in Wellington for their second O’Reilly Cup clash of the year before hosting Wales on July 26 in Brisbane and August 1 at North Sydney Oval.

A squad of 32 will be selected for the World Cup following the clash at North Sydney before the Wallaroos depart for the United Kingdom on August 11.

Australia squad: 

Katalina Amosa (Brumbies/Southern Districts)
Bree-Anna Browne (Queensland Reds/Brothers Rugby)
Charlotte Caslick (Queensland Reds/Wests Bulldogs)
Emily Chancellor (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
Annabelle Codey (NSW Waratahs/Easts Brisbane)
Lori Cramer (Queensland Reds/University of Queensland)
Piper Duck (NSW Waratahs/Tumut Bullettes)
Waiaria Ellis (NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions)
Ashley Fernandez (Brumbies/Uni-North Owls)
Caitlyn Halse (NSW Waratahs/Camden Rams)
Georgina Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs/Wests Bulldogs)
Tia Hinds (Brumbies/Randwick)
Brianna Hoy (NSW Waratahs/Coffs Harbour Snappers)
Asoiva Karpani (Queensland Reds/Southern Suburbs)
Lydia Kavoa (Brumbies/Eastern Suburbs)
Kaitlan Leaney (NSW Waratahs/CSU Marlins)
Michaela Leonard (Western Force/Tuggeranong Vikings)
Ashley Marsters (Western Force/Boroondara)
Desiree Miller (NSW Waratahs/Eastern Suburbs)
Faitala Moleka (Brumbies/Blacktown Scorpions)
Layne Morgan (Queensland Reds/Merewether Carlton)
Tania Naden (Brumbies/Uni-North Owls)
Bridie O’Gorman (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
Siokapesi Palu (Brumbies/Rockdale Rangers)
Faliki Pohiva (NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions)
Trilleen Pomare (Western Force/Wanneroo)
Cecilia Smith (Western Force/Leeton Dianas)
Maya Stewart (NSW Waratahs/Nelson Bay Gropers)
Adiana Talakai (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
Tabua Tuinakauvadra (Brumbies/Orange Emus)
Caitlin Urwin (Queensland Reds/Gympie Hammers)
Samantha Wood (Western Force/Kalamunda Rugby)