Wallabies: Carter Gordon rushed back into all-Australian-based tour squad that includes an ex-All Black
Carter Gordon is back in the Wallabies after ending his rugby league adventure and he is joined by ex-All Black Aidan Ross, inset
Joe Schmidt has named a 34-man, all-Australian-based Wallabies squad for the upcoming end-of-year tour that includes an uncapped duo, a fresh signing from rugby league and two players returning from injury.
With the opening matches against Japan in Tokyo on October 25 and versus England in London on November 1 falling outside the World Rugby player release window, Schmidt will initially make do without the French-based Will Skelton and the now English-based James O’Connor and Len Ikitau for the early part of the five-match tour.
Skelton, O’Connor, Ikitau and other overseas players will be available for a call-up for the later matches versus Italy in Udine on November 8, Ireland in Dublin on November 16 and France in Paris on November 22.
In the meantime, the Wallabies will rely on a squad that includes the uncapped Reds duo of scrum-half Kalani Thomas and loosehead Aidan Ross, the ex-All Black who won a single cap under Ian Foster in 2022.
“Challenge certainly doesn’t get any easier…”
Also named is Carter Gordon, who has confirmed his return to union. He won eight caps under Eddie Jones in 2023, including appearances at the Rugby World Cup in France, but he quit for the NRL in June 2024 following an offer from the Gold Coast Titans.
With a deal now struck for the fly-half to return to Les Kiss’ Reds for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, he has been hurriedly restored to the Wallabies squad following a two-year absence.
Other eye-catching Wallabies developments are the inclusion of the fit-again backs, Dylan Pietsch and Andrew Kellaway. Pietsch suffered a fractured jaw on the August tour to South Africa while a calf strain ruled Kellaway out of the two recent matches against the All Blacks.
Four players named in the Australia A squad – Matt Faessler, Josh Canham, Pete Samu and Hamish Stewart – for the October 18 game in Osaka against a Japan XV will stay on in the Far East and link up with Schmidt’s Test squad for the tour that starts in Tokyo and ends in Paris.
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A statement read: “The squad remains mostly consistent with the group that has featured so far throughout the 2025 Test season. Overseas-based players may link up with the group, but not during the first two matches of the tour due to those matches falling outside the World Rugby regulation nine window.
“The squad, which is comprised of 19 forwards and 15 backs, will assemble in Sydney on Thursday evening, where they will train and attend the Rugby Australia Awards on Friday, before departing for Tokyo.”
Wallabies head coach Schmidt said: “The squad and staff have had a brief chance to catch their breath after what has been a dense and attritional Test season so far.
“The challenge certainly doesn’t get any easier with five consecutive Tests on the road against high-quality international opposition but, in saying that, the squad will relish the challenge and players will work hard to be as competitive as possible.
“Both Aidan Ross and Kalani Thomas have had a bit of time with us, and Carter Gordon will get the opportunity to integrate back into the Wallabies environment. The three players are fully fit and eager to be involved.
“We have taken a long-term view with Tom Lynagh, who is still just 22 years old. He has had a few injury frustrations since the third Test versus the Lions in early August and will follow an individualised program, guided by both Wallabies and Queensland staff, which will allow him to recover to full fitness.
“There are a few players who have featured during recent Test matches that are currently involved in competitions in Europe. Given the intensity of our tour schedule, we may look to bolster our playing stocks by including some of these players during the World Rugby regulation nine window.”
Wallabies end-of-year tour squad
Forwards (19): Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors, ACT Brumbies, 85), Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 44), Josh Canham (#987, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 1)*, Nick Champion De Crespigny (#991, Canberra Grammar School, Western Force, 2), Matt Faessler (#969, USQ Saints, Queensland Reds, 15)*, Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions, ACT Brumbies, 34), Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies, Queensland Reds, 35), Josh Nasser (#979, Easts Rugby (Brisbane), Queensland Reds, 8), Zane Nonggorr (#966, Gold Coast Eagles, Queensland Reds, 16), Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 16), Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos, Western Force, 36), Aidan Ross (uncapped, Bond University, Queensland Reds, 0), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick, Queensland Reds, 43), Pete Samu (#920, Moorabbin Rams, NSW Waratahs, 33)*, Carlo Tizzano (#982, University of Western Australia, Western Force, 11), Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby (Brisbane), NSW Waratahs, 65), Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 57), Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers, Western Force, 20), Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils, Queensland Reds, 31)
Backs (15): Filipo Daugunu (#931, Wests Bulldogs, Queensland Reds, 15), Tane Edmed (#990, West Harbour Juniors, NSW Waratahs, 4), Josh Flook (#972, Brothers Rugby, Queensland Reds, 5), Carter Gordon (#967, Sunshine Coast Grammar School, Queensland Reds, 8), Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors, NSW Waratahs, 32), Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves, NSW Waratahs, 17), Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 45), Ryan Lonergan (#993, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 2), Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 32), Dylan Pietsch (#979, Leeton Phantoms, Western Force, 7), Harry Potter (#989, Moorabbin Rams, Western Force, 7), Hamish Stewart (#986, Toowoomba Bears, Western Force, 2)*, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (#988, The Kings School, NSW Waratahs, 14), Kalani Thomas (uncapped, Springfield Hawks, Queensland Reds, 0), Corey Toole (#992, Wagga Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, 3)
*denotes also part of the Australia A squad
Unavailable for selection: Charlie Cale, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Noah Lolesio, Tom Wright
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