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Contracted Wallaroos squad announced for 2025 World Cup and beyond

99 days ago

Michaela Leonard poses with team mates during an Australian Wallaroos captain's run at Sydney Grammar School on May 10, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Rugby Australia has announced a 46-player contracted Wallaroos squad ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup and the remainder of the 2025 season.

The group includes 17 players from the NSW Waratahs, ten each from Western Force and Queensland Reds, and nine ACT Brumbies representatives.

The squad features majority of players who featured throughout last year’s Test season including captain Michaela Leonard, most-capped Wallaroo Ashley Marsters and all-time leading try-scorer Maya Stewart.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

Wallaroos prop Brianna Hoy, who injured her ACL in October, has been re-signed as she eyes a possible return to the national side prior to the Rugby World Cup.

Wallaroos quartet Emily Chancellor, Adiana Talakai, Bree-Anna Cheatham and Ivania Wong will also look to break back into the Test team after injury ruled them out of contention last year.

A Rugby Australia release said: “The managed group is split across four tiers with contracted players given access and resources from Wallaroos high performance staff throughout 2025.

“Contracted players will be monitored and supported during the Super Rugby Women’s competition, the Wallaroos Test season and additional post-season camps.”

The Wallaroos will play a minimum of 10 Test matches in 2025, including five on home soil, two away Tests and three pool matches at the Rugby World Cup in August.

A two-Test series against Wales in Brisbane (July 26th) and Sydney (August 1st) will be the final time the team will play together before the Rugby World Cup gets underway from August 22nd.

Rugby Australia General Manager – Women’s High Performance Jaime Fernandez said: “We are pleased to see continued progress taking place in terms of a full and comprehensive international schedule leading into the Wallaroos’ Rugby World Cup campaign in 2025.

“With increased Test opportunities and more time spent together as a team, we are seeing the emergence of new talent while also seeing positive progression in those players who have been mainstays of the program over many years.

“This is an exciting combination, growing the depth of the program, while also providing healthy and productive competition for the opportunity to be selected for the Rugby World Cup later in the year.”

Australia’s Rugby Sevens stars who have put their hand up to play in the Super Rugby Women’s competition in a bid to possibly debut for the Wallaroos in 2025 are excluded from the contracted list pending selection.

Jo Yapp’s side open their Test season against Fijiana in Suva on May 3rd before the Pacific Four Series gets underway with matches against New Zealand, USA and Canada.

Wallaroos contracted players for 2025:
Ruby Anderson (NSW Waratahs/Avoca Beach Rugby Club)
Ashlea Bishop (ACT Brumbies/Canberra Royals)
Emily Chancellor (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
Bree-Anna Cheatham (Queensland Reds/Western Districts Rugby)
Georgia Cormick (Western Force/Harlequins Rugby Club)
Lori Cramer (Queensland Reds/University of Queensland)
Carys Dallinger (Queensland Reds/Feilding Yellows)
Biola Dawa (ACT Brumbies/Canberra Royals)
Piper Duck (NSW Waratahs/Tumut Bullettes)
Waiaria Ellis (NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions)
Ashley Fernandez (ACT Brumbies/Uni-North Owls)
Georgina Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs/Wests Bulldogs)
Sally Fuesaina (ACT Brumbies/Campbelltown Harlequins)
Caitlyn Halse (NSW Waratahs/Southern Districts)
Brianna Hoy (NSW Waratahs/Coffs Harbour Snappers)
Eva Karpani (Queensland Reds/Onkaparinga)
Lydia Kavoa (ACT Brumbies/Eastern Suburbs)
Atasi Lafai (NSW Waratahs/Campbelltown Harlequins)
Kaitlan Leaney (NSW Waratahs/CSU Marlins)
Michaela Leonard (Western Force/Tuggeranong Vikings)
Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke (Western Force/Huria Rugby Club)
Ashley Marsters (Western Force/Booroondarra)
Arabella McKenzie (NSW Waratahs/Lightning Ridge Tigers)
Brittany Merlo (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
Desiree Miller (NSW Waratahs/Eastern Suburbs)
Tiarah Minns (Queensland Reds/Manly Mermaids)
Faitala Moleka (ACT Brumbies/Blacktown Scorpions)
Tiarna Molloy (Queensland Reds/Inverell Highlanders)
Layne Morgan (Queensland Reds/Merewether Carlton)
Tania Naden (ACT Brumbies/Uni-North Owls)
Leilani Nathan (NSW Waratahs/Hamilton Hawks)
Sera Naiqama (Western Force/Sydney University)
Alapeta Ngauamo (Western Force/Wests Bulldogs)
Bridie O’Gorman (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
Siokapesi Palu (ACT Brumbies/Rockdale Rangers)
Faliki Pohiva (NSW Waratahs/Manly Mermaids)
Trilleen Pomare (Western Force/Wanneroo)
Deni Ross (Queensland Reds/Gordon Rugby Club)
Allana Sikimeti (Western Force/North Eagles)
Cecilia Smith (Western Force/Leeton Dianas)
Maya Stewart (NSW Waratahs/Nelson Bay Gropers)
Adiana Talakai (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
Tabua Tuinakauvadra (ACT Brumbies/Tuggeranong Vikings)
Ivania Wong (Queensland Reds/Sunnybank Dragons)
Samantha Wood (Western Force/Kalamunda Rugby Club)
Natalie Wright (Queensland Reds/Wests Bulldogs)

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 8 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 8 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 8 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 8 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 8 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 8 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍