Veteran prop James Slipper has come out of retirement to answer an SOS call from Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt for the upcoming Nations Championship Tests. The 37-year-old, who retired last November, could surpass All Blacks great Sam Whitelock as rugby's second most-capped player in history if he takes the field.
Slipper is joined in the 37-man squad by three uncapped players: Brumbies pair Declan Meredith and Lachlan Shaw, and Waratahs lock Miles Amatosero. They are in line for potential debuts against Ireland in Sydney on 4 July.
Squad Details
Fellow loosehead Angus Bell also features after a season-long sabbatical with Ulster in Ireland. The squad includes 20 forwards and 17 backs, and will assemble in Sydney on Wednesday.
Meredith, 29, grew up in Cairns and played junior rugby for Barron Trinity Bulls before moving to Canberra. Shaw, 23, is a 200cm tall lock who progressed through Brisbane ranks and represented the Junior Wallabies in 2023. Amatosero, 24, began his rugby journey at South Coogee and spent three years at Clermont Auvergne in France before returning to Sydney.
Other Returns
Queensland fullback Jock Campbell is a step closer to a Wallabies recall, having last played in 2022. Charlie Cale returns after injury, while scrumhalf Tate McDermott and fullback Tom Wright also come back from injury. UK-based pair Len Ikitau and Tom Hooper, and France-based prop Taniela Tupou have also been selected.
After facing Ireland, the Wallabies travel to Brisbane to play France on 11 July, then take on Italy in Perth the following Saturday.
Coach Joe Schmidt, who will hand over to Les Kiss after the three Tests, said: "There have been ongoing discussions amongst the coaches for a number of months. We've settled on a group that we think will work hard and can perform well against three top-tier European teams."
Veteran half Jake Gordon, code-hopping Zac Lomax, and former captain Will Skelton are among those unavailable through injury.
Wallabies Squad
Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Miles Amatosero, Angus Bell, Charlie Cale, Josh Canham, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Lachlan Shaw, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson
Backs: Jock Campbell, Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Josh Flook, Carter Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Declan Meredith, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Kalani Thomas, Corey Toole, Tom Wright
