40-man Wallaby Squad Named for Rugby Championship

Australian Head Coach Michael Cheika has announced a 40-man Wallabies Training squad for the Rugby Championship and has done so with surprises. Included are, for the first time, two foreign based players with Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell being recalled. Joining them are a number of players set to leave Australia this year.

Cheika has also selected four uncapped players – Samu Kerevi, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Rory Arnold and Toby Smith.  Of them Smith is a New  Zealander while Naiyaravoro, a Fijian, had been seeked by both Cheika and Fiji for the World Cup.

Ausrtalia will open against South Africa in the Rugby Championship in Brisbane. The Wallabies will play a match against Argentina in Mendoza during the tournament and will face Uruguay for the first time ever in the Rugby World Cup.

Backs
Adam Ashley-Cooper (Bordeaux, France), Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), Quade Cooper (Toulon, France), Israel Folau (Waratahs), Bernard Foley (Waratahs), Will Genia (Stade  Français, France), Matt Giteau (Toulon, France), Rob Horne (Waratahs), Samu Kerevi (Reds), Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies), Christian Leali’ifano (Brumbies), Drew Mitchell (Toulon, France), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs), Nick Phipps (Waratahs), Henry Speight (Brumbies), Matt Toomua (Brumbies), Joe Tomane (Brumbies), Nic White (Brumbies)

Forwards
Rory Arnold (Brumbies), Dave Dennis (Waratahs), James Hanson (Reds), Scott Fardy (Brumbies), Tetera Faulkner (Force), Scott Higginbotham (Rebels), Greg Holmes (Reds), Michael Hooper (Waratahs), James Horwill (Reds), Sekope Kepu (Waratahs), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Ben McCalman (Force), Dean Mumm (Waratahs), David Pocock (Brumbies), Wycliff Palu (Waratahs), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), Scott Sio (Brumbies), Rob Simmons (Reds), Will Skelton (Waratahs), James Slipper (Reds), Toby Smith (Rebels)