Kurtley Beale is back in the green and gold after missing last year’s Spring Tour in a big Dave Rennie selection statement.
Beale is one of 44 players named for the Wallabies’ four-day camp on the Gold Coast on Friday, with a Rugby World Cup looming in September.
Joining Beale in the squad is experienced duo Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi who missed last year’s Spring Tour through injury.
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Flyhalf Bernard Foley is the unlucky man to make way for the returning stars, after he received the late call up for the Tests against Scotland, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.
Giant Aussie second rower Will Skelton is also absent from the 44-man squad, despite playing off the bench in the five-Test series.
Izack Rodda is back for his first international Australian camp since injury cruelled his push for International season selection.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said he believes the 44-man squad has “genuine depth” and “competition of places” as players put their best foot forward in a World Cup year.
“Of the 44 players all bar two have worn the gold jersey over the past three years and there’s also several fringe players who still have an opportunity to force their way into the next camp through strong Super Rugby form,” he said.
“We’ll use the four days to make sure all players head back to their franchises with a clear understanding on what will give them the best chance of representing their country in a World Cup year.”
There’s 11 different faces to the Spring Tour squad that managed two wins – and suffered heartbreaking one-point defeats to Italy and France.
The camp squad includes a whopping 16 players with 10 Tests or less experience – including uncapped duo Waratahs backrower Charlie Gamble and Brumbies scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan.
There’s only three players with 80 caps or more, with Beale, Michael Hooper and James Slipper the experienced trio.
The camp will include a “combination of on and off field elements” to best prepare players for the 2023 International season which culminates with the World Cup in France in September.
FULL SQUAD (age, club, Tests played)
Props
Allan Alaalatoa (28, ACT Brumbies, 64 Tests)
Angus Bell (22, NSW Waratahs, 20 Tests)
Matt Gibbon (27, Melbourne Rebels, 5 Tests)
Tom Robertson (28, Western Force, 31 Tests)
James Slipper (33, ACT Brumbies, 127 Tests)
Sam Talakai (31, Melbourne Rebels, 1 Test)
Taniela Tupou (26, Queensland Reds, 47 Tests)
Hookers
Folau Fainga’a (27, Western Force, 38 Tests)
Lachlan Lonergan (23, ACT Brumbies, 8 Tests)
David Porecki (30, NSW Waratahs, 10 Tests)
Locks
Nick Frost (23, ACT Brumbies, 9 Tests)
Cadeyrn Neville (34, ACT Brumbies, 8 Tests)
Matt Philip (28, Melbourne Rebels, 27 Tests)
Izack Rodda (26, Western Force, 34 Tests)
Darcy Swain (25, ACT Brumbies, 17 Tests)
Loose Forwards
Charlie Gamble (26, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)
Langi Gleeson (21, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)
Ned Hanigan (27, NSW Waratahs, 28 Tests)
Jed Holloway (30, NSW Waratahs, 10 Tests)
Michael Hooper (31, NSW Waratahs, 124 Tests)
Rob Leota (25, Melbourne Rebels, 13 Tests)
Fraser McReight (23, Queensland Reds, 10 Tests)
Pete Samu (31, ACT Brumbies, 32 Tests)
Rob Valetini (24, ACT Brumbies, 30 Tests)
Harry Wilson (23, Queensland Reds, 12 Tests)
Scrumhalves
Jake Gordon (29, NSW Waratahs, 20 Tests)
Ryan Lonergan (24, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)
Tate McDermott (24, Queensland Reds, 21 Tests)
Nic White (32, ACT Brumbies, 59 Tests)
Flyhalves
Quade Cooper (34, Kintetsu Liners, 76 Tests)
Ben Donaldson (23, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)
Noah Lolesio (23, ACT Brumbies, 17 Tests)
Centres
Lalakai Foketi (28, NSW Waratahs, 5 Tests)
Len Ikitau (24, ACT Brumbies, 26 Tests)
Hunter Paisami (24, Queensland Reds, 24 Tests)
Izaia Perese (25, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)
Samu Kerevi (29, Suntory Sungoliath, 41 Tests)
Outside Backs
Kurtley Beale (33, NSW Waratahs, 95 Tests)
Jock Campbell (27, Queensland Reds, 4 Tests)
Reece Hodge (28, Melbourne Rebels, 62 Tests)
Andrew Kellaway (27, Melbourne Rebels, 21 Tests)
Mark Nawaqanitawase (22, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)
Jordan Petaia (22, Queensland Reds, 25 Tests)
Tom Wright (25, ACT Brumbies, 23 Tests)
