Australia: Wallabies coach Dave Rennie confirms 40-man squad for training camp

David Skippers

Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie has confirmed a 40-man squad ahead of next month’s three-day camp on the Gold Coast.

The squad is dominated by Super Rugby Pacific leaders the Brumbies, who have the largest contingency out of the Australian sides with 15 players. The rest of the squad comprises of 10 Waratahs players while the Reds have eight representatives with the Rebels and Western Force contributing four and three players respectively.

Eight newbies

Altogether there are eight uncapped players in the group, including Brumbies trio Cadeyrn Neville, Nick Frost and Ryan Lonergan, Waratahs fly-half Ben Donaldson and Reds full-back Jock Campbell.

22-year-old Donaldson is named despite coming from the field during Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific win over the Rebels with a calf complaint.

He is joined by returning lock Jed Holloway and prop Harry Johnson-Holmes, earning call-ups after extended periods out of the national squad.

Meanwhile, Campbell earns a well-deserved call-up after missing selection last year, picking up from where he left off in 2022.

The relatively settled squad from last year will come together from April 3, ramping up preparations on-and-off the field ahead of the international season.

“The nucleus of this squad has performed well for us over the past couple of years and there are others selected based on strong form and potential,” Rennie said in a statement.

“Over the past two seasons we’ve built a foundation we can propel our game from, but we know we have a lot more in us.

“We’ll use this camp to ensure players head back to Super Rugby clear on their point of difference and the parts of their game that need to be better to put pressure on us to select them for the 2022 Test season.”

Wallabies training camp squad

Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies), Angus Bell (Waratahs), Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies), Nick Frost (Brumbies), Jed Holloway (Waratahs), Michael Hooper (Waratahs, c), Harry Johnson-Holmes (Waratahs), Feleti Kaitu’u (Western Force), Rob Leota (Melbourne Rebels), Lachlan Lonergan (Brumbies), Fraser McReight (Reds), Cadeyrn Neville (Brumbies), Matt Philip (Melbourne Rebels), David Porecki (Waratahs), Izack Rodda (Western Force), Pete Samu (Brumbies), James Slipper (Brumbies), Darcy Swain (Brumbies), Lachlan Swinton (Waratahs), Taniela Tupou (Reds), Rob Valetini (Brumbies), Harry Wilson (Reds)

Backs: Tom Banks (Brumbies), Jock Campbell (Reds), Ben Donaldson (Waratahs), Lalakai Foketi (Waratahs), Jake Gordon (Waratahs), Reece Hodge (Melbourne Rebels), Len Ikitau (Brumbies), Andrew Kellaway (Melbourne Rebels), Noah Lolesio (Brumbies), Ryan Lonergan (Brumbies), Tate McDermott (Reds), James O’Connor (Reds), Hunter Paisami (Reds), Izaia Perese (Waratahs), Jordan Petaia (Reds), Toni Pulu ( Western Force), Nic White (Brumbies), Tom Wright (Brumbies)

READ MORE: Darcy Swain: Wallaby second-row signs new Brumbies and Rugby Australia deal