Schmidt names one uncapped player in 40man squad to kick off Lions campaign as RA waits on contract call
1 day ago
Joe Schmidt whose Wallabies future remains up in the air past next years Lions tour has launched the 2025 campaign by naming a 40man squad to assemble in Sydney in January
Queensland Reds biglifting rookie prop Massimo De Lutiis is the only uncapped player in the cohort that will train for three days in Sydney from January 8
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 tour beginning in late June
The camp will include a debrief of the 2024 Test season as well as medical and physical testing on players prior to their returns to their Super Rugby Pacific Clubs from annual leave
The squad features 22 forwards and 18 backs with all except De Lutiis who is yet to play Super Rugby having featured under Schmidt this year
Schmidt said in a statement 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 quick glance at the program for 2025
Its 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 its great to see a number of 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
There is no place for Liam Wright the first skipper used by Schmidt earlier this year as he returns from injury
Meanwhile Schmidt who finished his first year in charge with a 67 winloss record is expected to make a call soon on if he will leave after his contract expires next year or push on towards the 2027 World Cup in Australia
Earlier this week Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh told RugbyPass that the organisation was preparing for either scenario a Schmidt exit or renewal
In line with the behavioural shift that weve tried to make culturally is that we do what we say were going to do One thing that Joe was very clear about was that it was a journey to the British and Irish Lions Series Waugh said
Obviously as we get closer to that Series we need to ensure were prepared for what may come after that whether thats extension with Joe or a shift in coaching structure
I probably dont want to get ahead of ourselves in terms of the decision weve committed to the Lions were focused on the Lions and clearly we need to ensure that weve got planning on different scenarios depending on the outcome with Joe
Wallabies squad Wallaby number Super Rugby Pacific Club first Australian Rugby clubForwards 22Allan Alaalatoa Angus Bell Angus BlythJosh Canham Massimo De LutiisMatt Faessler Nick Frost Langi GleesonIsaac Kailea Fraser McReight Josh Nasser Zane Nonggorr Brandon PaengaAmosa Billy PollardLukhan SalakaiaLotoJames SlipperCarlo Tizzano Taniela Tupou Seru Uru Rob Valetini Jeremy Williams Harry Wilson Backs 18Ben Donaldson Tane Edmed Josh Flook Jake Gordon Len IkitauMax JorgensenAndrew KellawayDarby LancasterNoah LolesioTom Lynagh Tate McDermottHunter Paisami Dylan Pietsch Harry Potter Hamish StewartJosephAukuso Suaalii Nic WhiteTom WrightWallabies 2025 Home TestsBritish Irish Lions TourWallabies v British Irish Lions Saturday July 19 at Suncorp Stadium BrisbaneWallabies v British Irish Lions Saturday July 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground MelbourneWallabies v British Irish Lions Saturday August 2 at Accor Stadium SydneyThe Rugby ChampionshipBledisloe CupWallabies v Argentina Saturday September 6 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium TownsvilleWallabies v Argentina Saturday September 13 at Allianz Stadium SydneyWallabies v New Zealand Saturday October 4 at Optus Stadium Perth