Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has announced a 34-player squad for the Rugby Championship.
For the first time ever, the Wallabies will have co-captains with James Slipper and Michael Hooper sharing the leadership responsibilities.
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Jones has named eight uncapped players in his squad, headlined by lock Richie Arnold.
Arnold is one of five overseas players amongst the squad and rehab group, with Wallabies management receiving approval to select two further players under Rugby Australia’s (RA) Overseas Players Selection Policy.
The three selected under the policy are centre Samu Kerevi, winger Marika Koroibete and lock Will Skelton, with Arnold and flyhalf Quade Cooper the additional two players.
Arnold is joined by Rebels duo Carter Gordon and Josh Kemeny after their strong Super seasons.
Gordon, Cooper and Ben Donaldson are the three primary playmakers whilst Ryan Lonergan also earns a call-up along with Reds captain Tate McDermott.
McDermott's Reds teammates Matt Faessler and Zane Nonggorr have won selection, with Brumbies forward Tom Hooper and Waratahs winger Dylan Pietsch the other uncapped players.
In a major boost, Rebels duo Rob Leota and Taniela Tupou have been included in the main squad as they continue to recover from injury, with Angus Bell, Langi Gleeson, Andrew Kellaway, Samu Kerevi, Jordan Petaia and Matt Philip making up the rehab group.
Brumbies forwards Lachlan Lonergan and Caderyn Neville along with Reds trio Harry Wilson, Hunter Paisami and Jock Campbell and overseas flyhalf Bernard Foley are among the major exclusions, named as part of an extended 28-player training squad.
Jones also confirmed Hooper and Slipper will share the captaincy duties, with Slipper inserted as captain last year after Hooper's departure for personal reasons.
Hooper is currently the most-capped Wallabies captain with 68 appearances whilst Slipper is verging on becoming the most-capped Wallaby in history, siting third on the all-time Wallabies appearances list behind Stephen Moore (129) and George Gregan (139)
“Michael and James are both world class players, strong leaders and embody what it means to be a Wallaby," Jones said.
“They have worked hard with the leadership group since January, and it will be important they continue to have strong support from the players around them.
“Getting selected in the squad is just the start, we’ve got to build the team now and that will require hard work and getting a little bit more out of everyone involved.”
“It’s an absolute honour to lead the squad alongside Slips. We’ve been having great discussions as a leadership group and wider squad throughout the year and there’s a really optimistic mindset as a collective heading into what’s a massive four months," co-captain Michael Hooper believes.
“I’m really proud to lead my country and am looking forward to working with Hoops and Eddie to bring this group together and win trophies," fellow co-captain James Slipper added.
FORWARDS
Allan Alaalatoa (29, ACT Brumbies, 64 Tests)
Richie Arnold (32, Stade Toulousain, uncapped)
Matt Faessler (24, Queensland Reds, uncapped)
Nick Frost (23, ACT Brumbies, 9 Tests)
Matt Gibbon (28, Melbourne Rebels, 5 Tests)
Jed Holloway (30, NSW Waratahs, 10 Tests)
Michael Hooper (co-captain) (31, NSW Waratahs, 124 Tests)
Tom Hooper (22, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)
Rob Leota (26, Melbourne Rebels, 13 Tests)
Fraser McReight (24, Queensland Reds, 10 Tests)
Zane Nonggorr (22, Queensland Reds, uncapped)
David Porecki (30, NSW Waratahs, 10 Tests)
Pete Samu (31, ACT Brumbies, 32 Tests)
Will Skelton (31, La Rochelle, 24 Tests)
James Slipper (co-captain) (34, ACT Brumbies, 127 Tests)
Taniela Tupou (27, Queensland Reds, 47 Tests)
Jordan Uelese (26, Melbourne Rebels, 15 Tests)
Rob Valetini (24, ACT Brumbies, 30 Tests)
BACKS
Quade Cooper (35, Kintetsu Liners, 76 Tests)
Lalakai Foketi (28, NSW Waratahs, 5 Tests)
Carter Gordon (22, Melbourne Rebels, uncapped)
Reece Hodge (28, Melbourne Rebels, 54 Tests)
Len Ikitau (24, ACT Brumbies, 26 Tests)
Marika Koroibete (30, Saitama Wild Knights, 51 Tests)
Ryan Lonergan (25, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)
Tate McDermott (24, Queensland Reds, 21 Tests)
Mark Nawaqanitawase (22, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)
Izaia Perese (26, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)
Suliasi Vunivalu (27, Queensland Reds, 1 Test)
Nic White (33, ACT Brumbies, 59 Tests)
Tom Wright (26, ACT Brumbies, 23 Tests)
UTILITY
Ben Donaldson (23, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)
Josh Kemeny (24, Melbourne Rebels, uncapped)
Dylan Pietsch (25, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)
REHAB GROUP
Angus Bell (22, NSW Waratahs, 20 Tests)
Langi Gleeson (21, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)
Andrew Kellaway (27, Melbourne Rebels, 21 Tests)
Samu Kerevi (29, Urayasu D-Rocks, 41 Tests)
Jordan Petaia (23, Queensland Reds, 25 Tests)
Matt Philip (29, Melbourne Rebels, 27 Tests)
NOT CONSIDERED DUE TO INJURY
Max Jorgensen
Tom Robertson
Izack Rodda
Corey Toole
Wallabies v South Africa, 5:05pm SAST/1:05am AEST, Saturday 8 July at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Wallabies v Argentina, 7:45pm AEST, Saturday 15 July at CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies v New Zealand, 7:45pm AEST, Saturday 29 July at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Wallabies v New Zealand, 2:35pm NZST/12:35pm AEST Saturday 5 August at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
FURTHER TRAIN-ON SQUAD
Forwards
Charlie Cale
Josh Canham
Pone Fa'amausili
Folau Fainga'a
Charlie Gamble
Ned Hanigan
Tom Lambert
Lachlan Lonergan
Cadeyrn Neville
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Blake Schoupp
Darcy Swain
Lachlan Swinton
Sam Talakai
Brad Wilkin
Harry Wilson
Backs
Lachlan Anderson
Jock Campbell
Filipo Daugunu
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
Josh Flook
Bernard Foley
Jake Gordon
James O'Connor
Hunter Paisami
James Tuttle
Joey Walton
Utility
Seru Uru
