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Australian Rugby Head Coach Michael Cheika has called upon players from the Queensland Reds, Melbourne Rebels and Western Force to participate in a training squad to begin the country’s Rugby World Cup 2015 preparations. Not considered were players from the Brumbies and Waratahs due to these teams being involved in Super Rugby play-offs.
Uncapped players called-up include Karmichael Hunt and Samu Kerevi from the Reds, Paul Alo-Emile and Toby Smith from the Rebels and Western Force second-rower Adam Coleman. There is also room for recalled players, most notably being James O’Connor who returned to Australia from Toulon despite having been dropped for disciplinary reasons in 2013.
The initial 22 man squad will begin training on June 22 before being complemented by Brumbies and Waratahs players on July 5. The Rugby Championship will kick-off on July 17 with New Zealand hosting Argentina in Christchurch. The Wallabies will face South Africa the following day in Brisbane.
Australia is in Pool A. Nicknamed the Pool of Death the Wallabies will face both host nations – England and Wales in addition to Fiji and Uruguay. Only the top two will qualify for the Quarter Finals. Australia will face Uruguay on Sunday September 26 in Birmingham in what is to be the first ever match between the countries.
Preliminary Training Squad
Paul Alo-Emile, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Jones, Sean McMahon, Toby Smith, Quade Cooper, Saia Fainga’a, Will Genia, Liam Gill, James Hanson, James Horwill, Greg Holmes, Karmichael Hunt, Samu Kerevi, James O’Connor, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Adam Coleman, Nick Cummins, Tetera Faulkner, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson.
