ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Friday Aug 5, 2016

Wallabies turn to experience with Rugby Championship 33-man squad

Wallabies Coach Michael Cheika has named an experienced 33-man squad for the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup, that kick off later this month. Following a disastrous England series, the Wallabies are looking to bolster up the squad ahead of a tough challenge.

The squad has been strengthened by a legion of experienced French-based Test campaigners, with Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Will Genia and Quade Cooper all named in the squad as the men in gold look to defend their Rugby Championship crown and end a long-standing Bledisloe Cup drought.

The Rugby Championship will be Cooper’s first stop on his comeback to Australia ahead of a Super Rugby return in 2017 following a brief stint with French powerhouse Toulon, where he linked with fellow Wallabies Giteau and Mitchell for the 2015/16 Top 14 season.
 
Fellow French-based star Will Genia will take his first steps on the comeback from a knee injury which has kept him out of Rugby since January, while utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper will look to add to his 114 Test caps after returning from Bordeaux.
 
The five foreign-based players are hungry for more success in the gold jersey having played an integral role in the Wallabies’ run to the Rugby World Cup Final in England last year.
 
All four uncapped players included in Cheika’s initial train-on squad – Allan Ala’alatoa, Reece Hodge, Tom Robertson and Lopeti Timani – have been retained in the final 33-man squad ahead of the four-nation tournament.
 
Three debutants from the recent England Series are also in the running to add to their Test tally with Samu Kerevi, Adam Coleman and Dane Haylett-Petty all named to join the squad at its training base in Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast next week.
 
Lock Kane Douglas is in the squad for the first time in 2016, after returning from a knee reconstruction, while his second row partner Rob Simmons has also made his way back from a shoulder injury which cut short his Super Rugby campaign.
 
Kurtley Beale, Rory Arnold and Joe Tomane were not considered for the squad because of injury.
 
The Qantas Wallabies will open their Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup campaigns against New Zealand at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, on Saturday, August 20. Tickets for the clash are available through Ticketek.

Wallabies 33-man squad:
 
Allan Ala’alatoa* (0 Tests), Adam Ashley-Cooper (114 Tests), Adam Coleman (1 Test), Quade Cooper (58 Tests), Kane Douglas (23 Tests), Scott Fardy (33 Tests), Israel Folau (41 Tests), Bernard Foley (30 Tests), Will Genia (66 Tests), Matt Giteau (102 Tests), James Hanson (10 Tests), Dane Haylett-Petty (3 Tests), Reece Hodge* (0 Tests), Michael Hooper (54 Tests), Rob Horne (32 Tests), Sekope Kepu (66 Tests), Samu Kerevi (2 Tests), Tevita Kuridrani (34 Tests), Ben McCalman (48 Tests), Sean McMahon (9 Tests), Drew Mitchell (70 Tests), Stephen Moore (c) (105 Tests), Dean Mumm (46 Tests), Nick Phipps (42 Tests), David Pocock (56 Tests), Tatafu Polota-Nau (64 Tests), Tom Robertson (0 Tests), Rob Simmons (62 Tests), Scott Sio (18 Tests), Will Skelton (15 Tests), James Slipper (77 Tests), Lopeti Timani* (0 Tests), Matt Toomua (32 Tests)

ADVERTISEMENT

Comments




Related Articles

  • 88 WEEKS AGO

    Fan Pees Off SCG Roof

  • 88 WEEKS AGO

    Eddie Jones To Coach Wallabies

  • 105 WEEKS AGO

    Former Wallaby could feature in 2023 Rugby...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    The dummy that sold the whole of Perth - including the cameraman

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Bayonne score 'one of the best tries you'll ever see' in latest match against Exeter

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    Baloucoune shows Andy Farrell what he's missing as the winger tears through Harlequins defence

  • 22 WEEKS AGO

    Seriously impressive Courtney Lawes compilation released after England player calls time on international career

  • 24 WEEKS AGO

    Fiji number eight Viliame 'Bill' Mata scores audacious try

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    The sending off that rocked the Six Nations opener

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Wrecking ball beats 10 players to score full length of the pitch try

  • 18 WEEKS AGO

    Streaker causes major bust up as he tackles player

  • 18 WEEKS AGO

    Monster hit from Perrin leaves Bristol Bears player stunned

  • 20 WEEKS AGO

    Posolo Tuilagi's massive tackle lights up Top 14

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Christian Wade proves he still has the X-factor with 50 metre mazy finish for Racing 92

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Magical sevens try leaves defender stuck in the mud

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    The fan reaction to Georgia calling out Wales this Autumn

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    England player ratings: England wake Twickenham up with huge victory

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible scenes as Italy shock Scotland in Rome

View All

Funnies

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Awesome scenes as Blitzbok fan throws down at the HSBC SVNS

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Mike Philips recounts crazy night Shane Williams tried to fight Warren Gatland

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Shaun Edwards leaves room silent in new Six Nations documentary with French to English transition

  • 18 WEEKS AGO

    Streaker causes major bust up as he tackles player

  • 22 WEEKS AGO

    Luke Cowan-Dickie left red faced after losing very costly bet

View All

Amateur

  • 63 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 63 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 86 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 86 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 87 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 13 HOURS AGO

    Danny Care to return to Twickenham for Barbarians match this summer

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Northampton Saints brothers retire a day apart

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Christian Wade proves he still has the X-factor with 50 metre mazy finish for Racing 92

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Tributes paid as World Cup referee looks to hang up boots

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Statement: Danny Care calls time on international career

View All