Twelve Wallabies have been selected in the Australia A squad to tour the United States of America later this month, with matches against the USA Eagles in Nashville on October 24 and New Jersey on October 30.
Kalani Thomas and Zane Nonggorr have been named to give them more game time, having spent most of the Test season with the Wallabies squad.
Capped Wallaby locks Miles Amatosero and Nick Frost have been selected, as have front rowers Matt Faessler, Tom Robertson and Lachlan Lonergan, along with flanker Luke Reimer.
Faessler will captain the tour side. He led the team to a 71-7 win over Japan XV in Osaka last year.
Former Australia U20s captain and skipper of the NSW Waratahs Super Rugby AUS side, Eamon Doyle, has been named in his first senior national squad. Perth junior Nathan Hastie has also earned his first call-up.
Olympians Corey Toole and Lachlan Anderson have also been included. The group was jointly selected by the Wallabies and Australia A coaching staff.
Australia A Head Coach Stephen Larkham said: “It’s pleasing to pull together such a strong group of players for what will be a testing Tour against genuine international opposition.”
He added: “A lot of the players selected have performed well across Super Rugby AUS and to have a number of Wallabies in the mix shows the depth that is being created across the Australian Rugby system.”
The Australia A squad will depart for the USA on October 18.
Australia A squad
- Miles Amatosero (NSW Waratahs – South Coogee Red Devils)
- Joe Brial (Queensland Reds – Easts, Sydney)
- Ethan Dobbins (NSW Waratahs – Wests Bulldogs)
- Eamon Doyle (NSW Waratahs – Woonona Shamrocks)
- Matt Faessler (c) (Queensland Reds – USQ Saints)
- Nick Frost (ACT Brumbies – Hornsby Lions)
- Will Harris (Western Force – Norths Pirates)
- Lington Ieli (ACT Brumbies – Brisbane Boys’ College)
- Tom Lambert (Queensland Reds – West Harbour Juniors)
- Lachlan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies – Tuggeranong Vikings)
- Toby Macpherson (ACT Brumbies – Goondiwindi Junior Emus)
- Zane Nonggorr (Queensland Reds – Gold Coast Eagles)
- Luke Reimer (NSW Waratahs – Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
- Tom Robertson (Western Force – Dubbo Roos)
- Rory Scott (ACT Brumbies – Canberra Royals)
- Rhys van Nek (ACT Brumbies – Easts Rugby, Brisbane)
- Lachie Anderson (Queensland Reds – Dural Rugby Club)
- Tane Edmed (ACT Brumbies – West Harbour Juniors)
- David Feliuai (ACT Brumbies – Sunnybank Dragons)
- Mac Grealy (Western Force – Souths Kookaburras Toowoomba)
- Nathan Hastie (Western Force – Wanneroo Rugby Club)
- Tom Lynagh (Queensland Reds – University of Queensland)
- Dylan Pietsch (Western Force – Leeton Phantoms)
- Kadin Pritchard (ACT Brumbies – Springfield Hawks)
- Tim Ryan (Queensland Reds – Brothers Rugby)
- Kalani Thomas (Queensland Reds – Springfield Hawks)
Fixtures
Australia A face the USA Eagles at 9:00 am AEST on Sunday 25 October at Geodis Park Stadium, Nashville.
The second match takes place at 10:00 am AEST on Saturday 31 October at Sports Illustrated Stadium, New Jersey.