Sam Needs, the Interim Head Coach, has published the names of 44 players to form the first training squad of his reign.
They have two sessions planned at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra: 2-5 and 22-26 February.
The List:
KATALINA AMOSA
RUBY ANDERSON
*DILLYN BLACKBURN
*LILLY BONE
BREE-ANNA BROWNE
EMILY CHANCELLOR
LORI CRAMER
BIOLA DAWA
PIPER DUCK
WALARIA ELLIS
*CHIOMA ENYI
ASHLEY FERNANDEZ
*GRACE FREEMAN
GEORGINA FRIEDRICHS
MARTHA FUA
CAITLYN HALSE
BRIANNA HOY
EVA KARPANI
ATASI LAFAI
KAITLYN LEANEY
*NICOLE LIDINGTON
MICHAELA LEONARD
DESIREE MILLER
TIARAH MINNS
FAITALA MOLEKA
*MANU’A MOLEKA
*NGAMIHI MONK
TANIA NADEN
BRIDIE O’GORMAN
SIOKAPESI PALU
*MILLIE PARKER
FALIKI POHIVA
*ELLA RYAN
*EVIE SAMPSON
ALLANA SIKIMETI
CECILIA SMITH
MAYA STEWART
ADIANA TALAKAI
*BROOKLYN LEKI JOYCE
TABUA TUINAKAUVADRA
*CAITLYN URWIN
*AVA WERESTA
*AMELIA WHITAKER
SAMANTHA WOOD
* uncapped
The balance shows 26 players who joined the 2025 RWC squad plus 14 newcomers.
Once again we see the geographical imbalance present in Oz rugby. Players come aplenty from Queensland, NSW, ACT plus a few from Western Force. Victoria and South Australia are noticeably absent.
Like the Black Ferns the Wallaroos are helped and hindered by the priority given to 7s players. That pathway produces fine players, but then comes the problem – for the individual and the coaches – of deciding which format to follow or to attempt both.
A prize example is Piper Simons, who has made her mark in the SVNS Series, and is one of four players to be invited to attend the first AIS session as well.
Pacific-Four Series
This year’s offering, the sixth in all, takes place in Australia and the USA in April, though the fine details are not yet known.
The tournament tends to divide into two pairs, Canada and New Zealand, and the Wallaroos and the Eagles. A first target would be to get the better of the Eagles. Currently they rank 7th and 8th in the world, just a couple of points apart.
A crowded schedule
The Wallaroos also have a much extended test programme to look forward to. Ten matches are riches indeed for them, boosted by the extended WXV Global Series in September and October, plus the visit of Scotland on a two-test tour.
These help to overcome a major but simple lack: experience of regular matches at international level. I would call that the major reason for Australia’s failure to reach the top of the pile hitherto.
Back home the SuperW competition has been rebranded as the Swyfix Soper Rugby Women’s Competition, a title that doesn’t roll off the tongue, but let’s hope it means greater sponsorship and public awareness of the women’s game. Better coverage would benefit too. Rugby League remains a powerful rival.
It will be fascinating to see how far the Wallaroos can advance. It’s a chance too for Sam Needs to throw his hat into the ring for election to a permanent post in charge.
