Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has named five NSW Waratahs in a 25-man squad for Australia A’s upcoming match against Tonga in Nuku'alofa on July 14.
Littered with Wallabies, the side will be spearheaded by 76-Test veteran and former Waratah Bernard Foley as well as James O’Connor, both of whom wore the number 10 jersey for Australia last year.
A total of 13 Wallabies feature in the group which will assemble in Sydney on Sunday, including forwards Folau Fainga’a and Harry Wilson, and backs Jake Gordon and Jock Campbell. The returning Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has also been selected in the squad as well as ACT Brumbies speedster and former Australian Sevens representative Corey Toole.
Ned Hanigan, Joey Walton and Tom Lambert round out the New South Wales players selected.
The match will be a key fixture as both the Wallabies and Tonga continue their preparations ahead of the Rugby World Cup in France which kicks off in September. In extra significance, the match will take place on the 50th anniversary of Tonga’s victory over the Wallabies at Ballymore in Brisbane; a match where Fatai Kefu, the father of current Tonga coach and Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu, represented the Ikale Tahi.
The Australia A program was successfully reintroduced last year, with the side earning wins over Fiji, Tonga and Japan XV side. It also led to the Test debuts of a number of players including Jock Campbell, Ben Donaldson, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Langi Gleeson.
The side will be led by head coach Jason Gilmore with ACT Brumbies duo Rod Seib and Laurie Fisher as his assistants.
Australia A coach Jason Gilmore said: “It’s great to build on the foundations of the Australia A program from last year with another hit out against Test-quality International opposition in Tonga.”
“Eddie has selected a group with a huge amount of talent and alongside the rest of the Australia A coaches, I’m looking forward to working closely with them and maximising our time together.”
Australia A will play the Ikale Tahi at 3:00pm local time (12:00pm AEST) on 14 July at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku'alofa, Tonga.
Lachlan Anderson (Melbourne Rebels)
Jock Campbell (Queensland Reds)
Josh Canham (Melbourne Rebels)
Pone Fa’amausili (Melbourne Rebels)
Folau Fainga’a (Western Force)
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (Western Force)
Bernard Foley (Kubota Spears)
Josh Flook (Queensland Reds)
Jake Gordon (NSW Waratahs)
Ned Hanigan (NSW Waratahs)
Tom Lambert (NSW Waratahs)
Lachlan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies)
Cadeyrn Neville (ACT Brumbies)
James O’Connor (Queensland Reds)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Melbourne Rebels)
Ollie Sapsford (ACT Brumbies)
Blake Schoupp (ACT Brumbies)
Lachlan Swinton (NSW Waratahs)
Sam Talakai (Melbourne Rebels)
Corey Toole (ACT Brumbies)
Seru Uru (Queensland Reds)
Rhys Van Nek (ACT Brumbies)
Joey Walton (NSW Waratahs)
Brad Wilkin (Melbourne Rebels)
Harry Wilson (Queensland Reds)
